Drug–receptor theory

This chapter discusses the various mathematical models used to describe and quantify drug response. This begins with consideration of the classical theory which formed the basis of all subsequent models followed by the model of agonism most prevalent in pharmacology at this time, the Black/Leff operational model. In addition, biochemical models are described beginning with the two-state model of ion-channel activation, the ternary complex, extended ternary complex, and cubic ternary complex models of seven transmembrane receptor function. Concepts from molecular dynamics are finally added to describe probabilistic models of receptor activation.