An Overview of Epinephrine Receptors

Health Ads by

The hormone epinephrine is a neurotransmitter able to bind to a variety of cell receptors. This ability is what enables epinephrine to act on nearly all body tissues, as many types of cells have these receptors. The different adrenergic receptors trigger different metabolic changes. The binding of epinephrine generally causes a sympathetic (or 'fight-or-flight') response.

There are two main groups of adrenergic cell receptors (? and ?), each with several subtypes. Epinephrine binds to several types of adrenergic receptors, including ?1, ?2, ?1, ?2, and ?3 receptors.

When epinephrine binds to ?-adrenergic receptors, insulin secretion by the pancreas is reduced. Meanwhile, gycolysis is stimulated in muscle tissue, preparing the muscles for action. When epinephrine reacts with ?-adrenergic receptors, it causes vasoconstriction, or the constricting of blood vessels. This leads to increased heart rate, one of the most noticeable results of the release of epinephrine. At the same time, epinephrine also binds to ?-adrenergic cell receptors. ?-Adrenergic receptor binding triggers secretion of hormones and glucagon that serve to increase blood glucose levels, providing increased energy for cells throughout the body.

Photo: Px Here