catecholamine

catecholamine

 [kat″ĕ-kol´ah-mēn″]

any of a group of sympathomimetic amines (including dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine), the aromatic portion of whose molecule is catechol.

The catecholamines play an important role in the body's physiological response to stress. Their release at sympathetic nerve endings increases the rate and force of muscular contraction of the heart, thereby increasing cardiac output; constricts peripheral blood vessels, resulting in elevated blood pressure; elevates blood glucose levels by hepatic and skeletal muscle glycogenolysis; and promotes an increase in blood lipids by increasing the catabolism of fats.

Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

catecholamine

(kăt′ĭ-kō′lə-mēn′, -kô′-)

n.

Any of a group of monoamines, including epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine, that act as neurotransmitters and hormones.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

catecholamine

Endocrinology A biogenic amine from tyramine/phenylalanine which contains a catechol nucleus Examples Epinephrine–adrenaline in UK, norepinephrine–noradrenaline and dopamine, which act as hormones and neurotransmitter in the peripheral and central nervous system; catecholamines are produced by sympathetic nervous system activation Activity Autonomic arousal, fight-or-flight stress response, reward response. See Biogenic amine, Dopamine, Epinephrine, Indolamine, Norepinephrine.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

catecholamine

any CATECHOL-derived compound such as adrenalin or dopamine, which exert a neurotransmitting action similar to that of the sympathetic nervous system (see AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM).

Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005