The clinical and physiological strategy of increasing the number of specific hormone or neurotransmitter receptor sites present on the surface or within a target cell. Higher receptor density enhances cellular sensitivity, ensuring a more robust and efficient biological response to circulating hormonal signals, even if hormone levels are within the normal range. This improvement is a key strategy for overcoming age-related or pathological hormone resistance.
Origin
This concept is derived from molecular pharmacology and cellular endocrinology, where the response of a cell is known to be a function of both the concentration of the ligand (hormone) and the number of available receptors. The term emphasizes a therapeutic focus on the target tissue itself. This strategy represents an upstream approach to hormonal health.
Mechanism
Receptor density can be improved through various mechanisms, including upregulating gene expression for the receptor protein, reducing receptor internalization and degradation, or employing pulsatile signaling patterns. Factors such as exercise, specific nutritional cofactors, and appropriate timing of hormone administration can modulate this process. The enhanced density mechanism restores the clarity of the hormonal signal, improving systemic function.
We use cookies to personalize content and marketing, and to analyze our traffic. This helps us maintain the quality of our free resources. manage your preferences below.
Detailed Cookie Preferences
This helps support our free resources through personalized marketing efforts and promotions.
Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website, improving user experience and website performance.
Personalization cookies enable us to customize the content and features of our site based on your interactions, offering a more tailored experience.