Altering # of receptors

[mzzmuaa]

Competitively inhibiting the binding of adenosine to adenosine receptors, caffeine soon causes the number of adenosine receptors in the regular user's brain to significantly increase.
I was wondering if the same effect could be had for other receptors, like dopamine or acetylcholine receptors. With consistency, would a lack of either the specific neurotransmitter or the competitive inhibition of its binding to its specific receptors cause an increase in the number of receptors and, consequently, the sensitivity to the neurotransmitters?
If I don't make sense and/or have no idea what I'm talking about, then please just tell me to STFU.
Thanks for any help

 

[ziddy]

What you're referring to is "receptor upregulation." As dopaminergics have been shown to downregulate dopamine receptors, it would logically follow that antidopaminergics would upregulate receptors, though I haven't read anything to this effect specifically.

 

[Jamshyd]

I believe the whole idea behind Naltrexone (opioid antagonist) is exactly this, ie. to downregular opioid receptor, therefore reducing tolerance...

 

[fishmonger69]

You could try using an MOA inhibitor in order to incread the output/input levels of the receptors.

 

[nuke]

You can upregulate the number of dopamine receptors with estrogen or low dosage administration of MDMA. Amphetamine may cause it too (as low dose amphetamine can cause sensitization).

 

[MeDieViL]

You can upregulate the number of dopamine receptors with estrogen or low dosage administration of MDMA. Amphetamine may cause it too (as low dose amphetamine can cause sensitization).

what dosage of mdma are we talking about?

also, is it possible to upregulate serotonin receptors??