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Pharmacology
Receptor desensitization
Receptor desensitization - When a receptor becomes less responsive from constant overstimulation, or the cell reduces its receptors - the same dose then works less.
Also called downregulationtolerancedesensitisation
A receptor is a kind of docking site on the surface of cells - it picks up signals or active substances and triggers a response in the cell. When such a receptor is constantly and strongly activated, it can become desensitized: it then responds less. Or the cell removes some of its receptors - this is called downregulation. The result: the same dose works less over time - colloquially „tolerance".
Why it matters in practice
This is one reason some dosing or application schemes (e.g., for medications, hormones, or supplements) use breaks or apply a substance intermittently (pulsed) rather than constantly (see cycling) - the idea is to preserve receptor sensitivity.