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Receptor Responsiveness

Meaning

Receptor responsiveness is the clinical term for the sensitivity and efficiency with which a cell’s surface or intracellular receptors bind to their corresponding hormone or signaling molecule and successfully transduce that signal into a biological effect. High responsiveness ensures that a given concentration of a hormone, such as insulin or testosterone, elicits a maximal and appropriate cellular reaction. Declining responsiveness, often seen with age or chronic stress, leads to a state of functional hormone resistance.