Human Hormones

Norepinephrine, also commonly referred to as noradrenaline, is a hormone found in the human body. It is secreted from the chromaffin tissue that composes the adrenal gland’s medulla. Noradrenaline is composed of a benzene ring containing two hydroxyl groups and an amine side chain. Its chemical formula is C8H11NO3. It is a catecholamine, and it is classified as an anime hormone.
Secretion and Production

Noradrenaline is produced in and secreted from the chromaffin tissue that composes the adrenal gland’s medulla. It is synthesized by a series of reactions in which tyrosine is transformed into dihydroxtphenylalanine (DOPA), which then forms dopamine. Dopamine is hydroxylated to form norepinephrine (noradrenaline).

After production, noradrenaline is secreted into the blood stream. Its production and secretion are the effects of stress caused by environmental factors — this is commonly referred to as the “fight or flight response.” When noradrenaline production and secretion is high, it results in an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, elevation of blood-sugar levels, increased muscle readiness, and breakdown of the lipids in adipocytes. Each of these reactions occurs in order to physiologically prepare the body for changes in its physical environment.
Pharmacological Uses

As a drug, norepinephrine has three common uses:

Anti-Depressant
Noradrenaline is commonly used as an anti-depressant drug in combination with serotonin. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) work to treat depression by increasing the amount of serotonin and norepinephrine that is available to the postsynaptic cells in a person’s brain.

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)
Another common use of noradrenaline is as an ADHD drug in combination with dopamine. Because both noradrenaline and dopamine play a large role in both attention and focus, the two hormones are combined as ADHD treatment drugs in many major brands. Other drugs that use only noradrenaline to treat ADHD are said to have less of an abuse potential as well as a longer a longer life. However, ADHD drugs that use only noradrenaline are not effective in all ADHD patients.

Vasopressor
The final common use of noradrenaline is as a vasopressor. Noradrenaline constricts the arteries, therefore increasing blood pressure in patients whose blood pressure is dangerously low.

Epinephrine, commonly referred to as adrenaline, is a hormone found in the human body. It is secreted from the chromaffin tissue that composes the adrenal gland’s medulla. Adrenaline is composed of a benzene ring containing two hydroxyl groups and an amine side chain. Its chemical formula is C9H13NO3. It is a catecholamine, and it is classified as an amine hormone.
Secretion and Production

Adrenaline is produced in and secreted from the chromaffin tissue that composes the adrenal gland’s medulla. It is synthesized by a series of reactions in which tyrosine is transformed into dopamine and hydroxylated to form norepinephrine (noradrenaline). Adrenaline is then formed by the methylation of norepinephrine.

After production, adrenaline is secreted into the blood stream. Its production and secretion are the effects of stress caused by environmental factors — this is commonly referred to as the “fight or flight response.” When adrenaline production and secretion is high, it results in an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, dilation of the pupils, elevation of blood-sugar levels, suppression of the immune system, and breakdown of the lipids in adipocytes. Each of these reactions occurs in order to physiologically prepare the body for changes in its physical environment.
Pharmacological Uses

Adrenaline was first isolated in 1898 by John Abel. Though Jokichi Takamine is often credited or co-credited for the first isolation of adrenaline, Takamine’s isolation was actually a combination of both adrenaline and noradrenaline, where Abel’s isolation of adrenaline was the uncontaminated chemical compound with the formula C9H13NO3.

By 1904, Jowett determined the structure of adrenaline and Friedrich Stolz completed the first total chemical synthesis. Some of the conditions in which adrenaline has been proven an effective treatment are listed below:

Cardiac Arrest
Adrenaline can be administered to patients with cardiac arrest or any other condition in which the heart ceases to pump blood. In these cases, adrenaline works to restore the beating of the heart.

Asthma
Another common use of adrenaline as a drug is to treat asthma patients suffering from severe attacks in the instance that traditional asthma drugs are ineffective. In this instance, adrenaline works to relax the lung muscles.

Immunotherapy
Adrenaline is commonly used on patients undergoing immunotherapy, a procedure used on allergy patients in an attempt to condition their immune system to attack their allergens, therefore reducing the patient’s sensitivity to them. While a patient is undergoing immunotherapy, they may be administered an adrenaline drug to suppress their immune system.