norepinephrine
Sign in to saveNorepinephrine (NE), also called noradrenaline (NA) or noradrenalin, is an organic chemical in the catecholamine family that functions in the brain and body as a hormone, neurotransmitter and neuromodulator. The name "norepinephrine" (from Ancient Greek ἐπῐ́ (epí), "upon", and νεφρός (nephrós), "kidney") is usually preferred in the United States, whereas "noradrenaline" (from Latin ad, "near", and ren, "kidney") is more commonly used in the United Kingdom and the rest of the world. "Norepinephrine" is also the international nonproprietary name given to the drug. Regardless of which name is use
AI overview
Norepinephrine is a chemical messenger in your brain and body that acts as a hormone, neurotransmitter, and neuromodulator—meaning it helps transmit signals between nerve cells and regulate various bodily functions. It matters because it plays important roles throughout your nervous and endocrine systems, influencing how your brain and body communicate and respond to different situations.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Drug.N
- 1
- Drug.O
- 3
- Drug.IUPAC_name
- (R)-4-(2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl)benzene-1,2-diol
- Drug.image
- Norepinephrine.svg
- Drug.image_class
- skin-invert-image
- Drug.caption
- Skeletal formula of noradrenaline
- Drug.image2
- Noradrenaline-from-xtal-view-1-3D-bs-17.png
- Drug.image_class2
- bg-transparent
- Drug.caption2
- Ball-and-stick model of the zwitterionic form of noradrenaline found in the crystal structure
- Drug.source_tissues
- locus coeruleus; sympathetic nervous system; adrenal medulla
- Drug.target_tissues
- system-wide
- Drug.receptors
- α1, α2, β1, β3
Article
27 sectionsContents
- Structure
- Biochemical mechanisms
- Biosynthesis
- Degradation
- Functions
- Cellular effects
- Storage, release, and reuptake
- Sympathetic nervous system
- Central nervous system
- Skin
- Pharmacology
- Antagonists
- Beta blockers
- Alpha blockers
- Alpha-2 agonists
- Stimulants and antidepressants
- Diseases and disorders
- Sympathetic hyperactivation
- Pheochromocytoma
- Stress
- ADHD
- Autonomic failure
- REM sleep deprivation
- Comparative biology and evolution
- History
- References
- External links
Norepinephrine (NE), also called noradrenaline (NA) or noradrenalin, is an organic chemical in the catecholamine family that functions in the brain and body as a hormone, neurotransmitter and neuromodulator. The name "norepinephrine" (from Ancient Greek ἐπῐ́ (epí), "upon", and νεφρός (nephrós), "kidney") is usually preferred in the United States, whereas "noradrenaline" (from Latin ad, "near", and ren, "kidney") is more commonly used in the United Kingdom and the rest of the world. "Norepinephrine" is also the international nonproprietary name given to the drug. Regardless of which name is used for the substance itself, parts of the body that produce or are affected by it are referred to as noradrenergic.
The general function of norepinephrine is to mobilize the brain and body for action. Norepinephrine release is lowest during sleep, rises during wakefulness, and reaches much higher levels during situations of stress or danger, in the so-called fight-or-flight response. In the brain, norepinephrine increases arousal and alertness, promotes vigilance, enhances formation and retrieval of memory, and focuses attention; it also increases restlessness and anxiety. In the rest of the body, norepinephrine increases heart rate and blood pressure, triggers the release of glucose from energy stores, increases blood flow to skeletal muscle, reduces blood flow to the gastrointestinal system, and inhibits voiding of the bladder and gastrointestinal motility.