9.6:
Antihypertensive Drugs: Action of β1 Blockers
β1 receptors are primarily found in the heart and kidneys.
In cardiac myocytes, these receptors respond to stress-induced neurotransmitters, such as catecholamines.
Chronic stress can overstimulate these receptors, elevating the heart rate and blood pressure.
β1-blockers can inhibit the binding of catecholamines to β1 receptors, reducing their effects on the heart and decreasing the heart rate and, eventually, the blood pressure.
In the kidneys, overactivation of β1 receptors increases renin production from the juxtaglomerular cells of the afferent arteriole.
Increased renin converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin I, subsequently raising angiotensin II levels. This vasoconstrictor narrows blood vessels and increases blood pressure.
Angiotensin II also promotes aldosterone production, leading to sodium and water reabsorption and increasing blood volume and blood pressure.
Blocking β1 receptors reduces renin and aldosterone production, decreasing sodium and water reabsorption and lowering blood volume and pressure.
9.6:
Antihypertensive Drugs: Action of β1 Blockers
β1-receptors are primarily located in the heart and kidneys. In cardiac myocytes, these receptors interact with neurotransmitters released by the sympathetic nervous system during heightened activity or danger. As a result, β1-receptors get activated, initiating a series of biochemical processes. Excessive activation of beta receptors due to chronic stress can abnormally increase heart rate and contractility, resulting in high blood pressure or hypertension. To counteract this, β1-blockers competitively inhibit catecholamines from binding to β1-receptors. This inhibition reduces the effect of β1-receptor activation on the heart, leading to a decrease in heart rate and force of contraction.
Eventually, the heart's workload is reduced, and blood pressure decreases. In the kidneys, overactivation of β1-receptors enhances renin production from the juxtaglomerular cells of the afferent arteriole. This increase in renin enzyme concentration leads to more angiotensinogen being converted to angiotensin I, which results in higher angiotensin II production – a potent vasoconstrictor. Angiotensin II narrows blood vessels and elevates blood pressure. Increased angiotensin II levels trigger the adrenal gland to produce more aldosterone hormone. This hormone causes the kidneys to retain sodium and water, increasing blood volume and pressure. By blocking β1-receptors, renin production decreases, subsequently reducing angiotensin II production. This reduction allows blood vessels to relax and widen, lowering blood flow resistance and decreasing blood pressure.