octopamine

Octopamine (OA), also known as '''para-octopamine and norsynephrine''' among synonyms, is an organic chemical closely related to norepinephrine, and synthesized biologically by a homologous pathway. Octopamine is often considered the major "fight-or-flight" neurohormone of invertebrates. Its name is derived from the fact that it was first identified in the salivary glands of the octopus.

Key facts

Drug.Verifiedfields: changed
Drug.verifiedrevid: 408985899
Drug.drug_name: Octopamine
Drug.image: Octopamin.svg
Drug.image_class: skin-invert-image
Drug.width: 220px
Drug.image2: Octopamine---3D BALL AND STICK.png
Drug.image_class2: bg-transparent
Drug.width2: 200px
Drug.alt2: Ball-and-stick model of the octopamine molecule
Drug.tradename: Epirenor, Norden, Norfen
Drug.legal_US: Prohibited from use in food or supplements.

Article

16 sections

Contents

Functions
Cellular effects
Invertebrates
In non-insect invertebrates
In non-''Drosophila'' insects
In ''Drosophila''
Vertebrates
Pharmacology
Insecticides
Biochemical mechanisms
Mammals
Invertebrates
Biosynthesis
In insects
Chemistry
References

Octopamine (OA), also known as '''para-octopamine and norsynephrine among synonyms, is an organic chemical closely related to norepinephrine, and synthesized biologically by a homologous pathway. Octopamine is often considered the major "fight-or-flight" neurohormone of invertebrates. Its name is derived from the fact that it was first identified in the salivary glands of the octopus.

In many types of invertebrates, octopamine is an important neurotransmitter and hormone. In protostomes—arthropods, molluscs, and several types of worms—it substitutes for norepinephrine and performs functions apparently similar to those of norepinephrine in mammals, functions that have been described as mobilizing the body and nervous system for action. In mammals, octopamine is found only in trace amounts (i.e., it is a trace amine), and no biological function has been solidly established for it. It is also found naturally in numerous plants, including bitter orange.