Adrenaline is the stress hormone, but what effects does it have on the body? And what makes it a fundamental substance for life?
Epinephrine belongs to a known hormone within the small group of catecholamines, which are produced in the adrenal glands.
Within their natural chemical structure, they belong to the catechol group. They participate in many physiological processes, thereby integrating themselves in an essential way in vital functions.
These hormones mediate endocrine and neural actions, causing the body to cope with fear, situational stress, or asthma.
How is the composition and synthesis of adrenaline?
Adrenaline and norepinephrine come from the same family of catecholamines and are synthesized from various transformations. Its synthesis transcends tyrosine, where it evolves into norepinephrine and adrenaline.
The process in which dopamine is converted to norepinephrine is carried out by the enzyme dopamine B-hydroxylase. As norepinephrine results, it is methylated by the subsequent enzyme, phenyl ethanolamine N-methyltransferase, helping to obtain adrenaline as the final step.
Epinephrine is stored in the cytoplasm of cells belonging to the adrenal medulla for later use.
The autonomic nervous system and the adrenal medulla make up the sympathetic-adrenal system, fundamental for the functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
Physiological processes in which adrenaline intervenes
Heart rate
Epinephrine has a fundamental predilection for cardiac activity, increasing the speed of the heartbeat, as well as decreasing blood flow at the intestinal level. It generates good vascular flow in the skeletal muscles, guaranteeing their nutrition and energy in intense physical activities.
As it is a predominant activator of alpha receptors, it is much more effective than norepinephrine, which is its previous composition. With good levels of epinephrine, ventricular systole becomes faster and stronger, making the same movement shorter and with it, a lower pressure that helps the flow to be sufficiently distributed. The activity that this hormone generates in the heart is what makes it identify with a frequency-independent inotropic effect.
Stress or struggle conditions
When the body is in the throes of alertness, stress, fear, or in the midst of quick decisions, epinephrine causes the brain to coordinate ideas faster. It is related to situations of extreme pain caused after a stressful situation, such as the danger of death.
In these cases, adrenaline generates total antalgic in the affected area due to the release in large amounts of the hormone. When the body feels out of danger, the nerve fibers of pain will begin to make its perception felt intensely.
Glycogenolysis
Another important action of adrenaline is its action as a liberator of glucose into the blood from its different physiological reserves. Both gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis are largely mediated by the hormone epinephrine, taking glucose from reserves such as the liver and skeletal muscle.
This glucose is used when the body is in critical conditions such as starvation and hypoglycemia due to prolonged fasting in which energy is required to survive.
Asthma
The bronchodilator power of adrenaline makes it a helper hormone in asthma attacks. It has direct compatibility with b-adrenergic receptors, basic to stop it. It is the one used as a supplement compatible with antiasthma tics treatment with a level of evidence A1.