Catecholamine

Pronunciation

Definition 1

A type of neurohormone (a chemical that is made by nerve cells and used to send signals to other cells). Catecholamines are important in stress responses. High levels cause high blood pressure which can lead to headaches, sweating, pounding of the heart, pain in the chest, and anxiety. Examples of catecholamines include dopamine, epinephrine (adrenaline), and norepinephrine (noradrenaline). (NCI Dictionary)

Definition 2

A group of sympathetic amines containing a catechol group derived from the amino acid tyrosine. Catecholamines are hormones and neuromodulators synthesized in the chromaffin cells of the adrenal glands and the postganglionic fibers of the sympathetic nervous system in response to stress. Examples of catecholamines are epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and dopamine, all of which participate in a wide variety of functions throughout the body. (NCI Thesaurus)

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