Wolfram Library Archive


Courseware Demos MathSource Technical Notes
All Collections Articles Books Conference Proceedings
Title

Calculation of Agonist Efficacy, Apparent Affinity, and Receptor Population Changes After Administration of Insurmountable Antagonists: Comparison of Different Analytical Approaches
Authors

G. Zernig
T. Issaevitch
J. Woods
Journal / Anthology

Journal of Pharmacological and Toxicological Methods
Year: 1996
Volume: 35
Page range: 223-237
Description

The determination of the affinity and efficacy of an agonist in functional (as opposed to radioligand binding) experiments is necessary to explain its potency. Using modeled dose-response data both in their ideal form and with an added average deviation as well as previously published experimental data, a variety of analytical approaches were compared which differed in goodness-of-fit, ease of handling, and range of successful application. A nonlinear curve-fitting algorithm that analyzed several dose-response curves simultaneously and fitted them to an extended version of the operational model of Black and Leff (1983) was demonstrated to be superior to the other approaches using the above criteria. However, judging from the limitations of the analytical approaches, claims of efficacy or affinity differences between agonists that are based on less than 10-fold numerical differences in the same behavioral paradigm should be viewed with skepticism. it was also found that simple inspection of dose-response curves obtained before and after administration of an insurmountable antagonist give estimates of fair accuracy under most circumstances.
Subject

*Science > Medicine
Keywords

Apparent in vivo affinity, Efficacy, Receptor reserve, Spare receptors, Morphine, Alfentanil, Analgesia, Opioids, Operational model, Antinociception, Modeling