Heteroreceptor

A heteroreceptor is a receptor regulating the synthesis and/or the release of mediators other than its own ligand.

Heteroreceptors are presynaptic receptors that respond to neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, or neurohormones released from adjacent neurons or cells. For example, norepinephrine can influence the release of acetylcholine from parasympathetic neurons by acting on alpha-2A, alpha-2B, and alpha-2C receptors, whereas acetylcholine can influence the release of norepinephrine from sympathetic neurons by acting on muscarinic-2 and muscarinic-4 receptors.