catecholamine (redirected from catecholamine-depleting agents)

catecholamine /cat·e·chol·amine/ (kat?ah-kol´ah-men?) any of a group of sympathomimetic amines (including dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine), the aromatic portion of whose molecule is catechol.

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cat·e·cho·la·mine (kt-kl-mn, -kô-)

n.

Any of a group of amines composed of a pyrocatechol molecule and the aliphatic portion of an amine that have important physiological effects as neurotransmitters and hormones, such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, and L-dopa.

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catecholamine (kat´kō´lmēn´),

n any one of a group of sympathomimetic compounds composed of a catechol molecule and the aliphatic portion of amine. Some catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine) are produced naturally by the body and function as key neurologic chemicals.

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catecholamine

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.

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catecholamine-depleting agents

cause depletion of neuronal stores of norepinephrine, thereby reducing adrenergic responses, e.g. reserpine.