Adrenoceptor status and cardiovascular function in ageing.

Adrenoceptor function is an important determinant of the physiological control of the circulation and of the response to drugs acting via the sympathetic nervous system and on the vasculature. There is little consistent evidence for an age-dependent change in alpha-adrenoceptor function though the response to various vasoconstrictor agents including alpha 1 agonists has been shown to change with ageing. These changes seem to reflect structural or functional factors and are not specific for receptor types. In the case of beta-adrenoceptor mediated responses there is evidence for both a decrease in response as well as age-related changes in the functioning of various components of the beta-adrenoceptor system, including receptor affinity, which is decreased. It may well be that decreased beta-adrenoceptor function with ageing contributes to altered cardiovascular control and to decreased efficacy of beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs in elderly hypertensives.