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Vasodilatory Mechanisms of Beta Receptor Blockade

  • Antihypertensive Agents: Mechanisms of Drug Action (HM Siragy and B Waeber, Section Editors)
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An Erratum to this article was published on 15 August 2012

Abstract

Beta-blockers are widely prescribed for the treatment of a variety of cardiovascular pathologies. Compared to traditional beta-adrenergic antagonists, beta-blockers of the new generation exhibit ancillary properties such as vasodilation through different mechanisms. This translates into a more favorable hemodynamic profile. The relative affinities of beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists towards the three beta-adrenoreceptor isotypes matter for predicting their functional impact on vasomotor control. This review will focus on the mechanisms underlying beta-blocker-evoked vasorelaxation with a specific emphasis on agonist properties of beta3-adrenergic receptors.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by an Action de Recherche Concertée (06/11-338), Pôle d’Attraction Interuniversitaire (IUAP P6/30) of the Politique Scientifique Fédérale, Waleo, from the Region Wallonne, and the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique. CD is Senior Research Associate of the FNRS.

Disclosure

Drs. Rath, Balligand and Dessy reported no potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article.

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  1. Pole de Pharmacologie et Thérapeutique (FATH), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain, B01.5309, Avenue Mounier 52, 1200, Brussels, Belgium

    Géraldine Rath, Jean-Luc Balligand & Dessy Chantal

  2. Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université catholique de Louvain, B01.5309, Avenue Mounier 52, 1200, Brussels, Belgium

    Jean-Luc Balligand

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  1. Géraldine Rath
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Correspondence to Dessy Chantal.

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Rath, G., Balligand, JL. & Chantal, D. Vasodilatory Mechanisms of Beta Receptor Blockade. Curr Hypertens Rep 14, 310–317 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-012-0278-3

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