Metabolism of Catecholamines

  • Leslie L. Iversen
Chapter

Abstract

The three naturally occurring catecholamines are dopamine (3,4-dihydroxy-β-phenylethylamine; 3-hydroxytyramine) (DM), L-noradrenaline (arterenol; norepinephrine) (NA) and L-adrenaline (epinephrine) (ADR). NA is the transmitter substance released from the terminals of postganglionic neurons of the sympathetic nervous system. It is present in all parts of such neurons, but is markedly more concentrated in their fine terminal branches. In addition NA and DM occur in the brain and spinal cord of most vertebrates (Table I).

Table I Occurrence of Catecholamines in CNS of Vertebrates

Species

Brain catecholamine content µg/g)

Noradrenaline

Dopamine

Adrenaline

Rat

0.49

0.60

Approx 0.02

Cat

0.22

0.28

—

Dog

0.16

0.19

—

Pig

0.14

0.22

Approx 0.01

Guinea pig

0.38

0.34

Approx 0.01

Rabbit

0.29

0.32

—

Pigeon

0.38

Approx 0.40

Approx 0.05

Frog (Rana pipiens)

v. low

—

2.10

Toad (Bufo marinus)

v. low

—

2.40

Within the CNS, bioassay and chemical analysis have revealed a characteristic regional distribution of NA which parallels the occurrence of specialized catecholamine-containing neurons visualized in tissue sections by a fluorescence histochemical technique. The application of this histochemical technique has led to a greatly improved understanding of the detailed morphological distribution of catecholamine-containing neurons in the CNS in recent years.(1) Histochemical and biochemical studies have also revealed the presence of separate neuronal systems in the CNS in which the predominant catecholamine is dopamine, rather than NA. While NA-containing nerve terminals are widely distributed throughout the CNS, with a particular abundance in the hypothalamus, DM-containing neurons have a more circumscribed distribution, being particularly abundant in the striatum.(2)

Keywords

Tyrosine Hydroxylase Sympathetic Nerve Monoamine Oxidase Adrenal Medulla Tyrosine Hydroxylase Activity 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Plenum Press, New York 1970

Authors and Affiliations

  • Leslie L. Iversen
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of PharmacologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeEngland

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