Norepinephrine
From DrugPedia: A Wikipedia for Drug discovery
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[edit] Description
Precursor of epinephrine that is secreted by the adrenal medulla and is a widespread central and autonomic neurotransmitter. Norepinephrine is the principal transmitter of most postganglionic sympathetic fibers and of the diffuse projection system in the brain arising from the locus ceruleus. It is also found in plants and is used pharmacologically as a sympathomimetic.
As a stress hormone, norepinephrine affects parts of the brain where attention and responding actions are controlled. Along with epinephrine, norepinephrine also underlies the fight-or-flight response, directly increasing heart rate, triggering the release of glucose from energy stores, and increasing blood flow to skeletal muscle.
[edit] Origins
Norepinephrine is released when a host of physiological changes are activated by a stressful event.
In the brain, this is caused in part by activation of an area of the brain stem called the locus ceruleus. This nucleus is the origin of most norepinephrine pathways in the brain. Noradrenergic neurons project bilaterally (send signals to both sides of the brain) from the locus ceruleus along distinct pathways to many locations, including the cerebral cortex, limbic system, and the spinal cord, forming a neurotransmitter system.
Norepinephrine is also released from postganglionic neurons of the sympathetic nervous system, to transmit the fight-or-flight response in each tissue respectively. The adrenal medulla can also be counted to such postganglionic nerve cells, although they release norepinephrine into the blood.
[edit] General Properties
*Molecular Weight
169.18
*Molecular Formula
C8H11NO3
*IUPAC NAME
4-[(1R)-2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl]benzene-1,2-diol
*Canonical Smiles
C1=CC(=C(C=C1C(CN)O)O)O
*Isomeric Smiles
C1=CC(=C(C=C1[C@H](CN)O)O)O
[edit] PhysioChemical Properties
*Melting Point
*LogP
*Water Solubility
