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Saturation Model

Meaning

In endocrinology and pharmacology, the saturation model is a conceptual and mathematical framework used to describe the binding kinetics of a hormone or drug to its specific receptors, particularly when the concentration of the ligand is high enough to occupy a significant fraction of the available binding sites. This model predicts that as the ligand concentration increases, the rate of binding or the resulting biological effect will eventually plateau because all receptors become fully saturated. Understanding this relationship is crucial for determining optimal therapeutic dosing and avoiding receptor downregulation.