| adrenaline | <hormone> A hormone produced by the adrenal medulla in mammals. It can be produced synthetically for medical purposes. It is secreted by the adrenal medulla in response to low blood glucose, exercise and stress and causes a breakdown of glycogen to glucose in the liver, encourages the release of fatty acids from adipose tissue, causes vasodilation of the small arteries within muscle and increases cardiac output. (27 Sep 1997) |
|---|---|
| adrenaline oxidase | amine oxidase (flavin-containing) |
| adrenaline reversal | The fall in blood pressure produced by epinephrine when given following blockage of alpha-adrenergic receptors by an appropriate drug such as phenoxybenzamine; the vasodilation reflects the ability of epinephrine to activate beta-adrenergic receptors which, in vascular smooth muscle, are inhibitory; in the absence of alpha-receptor blockade, the beta-receptor activation by epinephrine is masked by its predominant action on vascular alpha-receptors, which causes vasoconstriction. Synonym: adrenaline reversal. (05 Mar 2000) |