Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction: revision of an old transmitter
- Part I The neurobiology of norepinephrine
- 1 Neuroanatomical and chemical organization of the locus coeruleus
- 2 Interactions of norepinephrine with other neurotransmitter systems: anatomical basis and pharmacology
- 3 Receptors for norepinephrine and signal transduction pathways
- 4 Regulation of gene transcription in the central nervous system by norepinephrine
- 5 The norepinephrine transporter and regulation of synaptic transmission
- Part II Norepinephrine and behavior
- Part III The biology of norepinephrine in CNS pathology
- Part IV Psychopharmacology of norepinephrine
- Index
3 - Receptors for norepinephrine and signal transduction pathways
from Part I - The neurobiology of norepinephrine
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 September 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction: revision of an old transmitter
- Part I The neurobiology of norepinephrine
- 1 Neuroanatomical and chemical organization of the locus coeruleus
- 2 Interactions of norepinephrine with other neurotransmitter systems: anatomical basis and pharmacology
- 3 Receptors for norepinephrine and signal transduction pathways
- 4 Regulation of gene transcription in the central nervous system by norepinephrine
- 5 The norepinephrine transporter and regulation of synaptic transmission
- Part II Norepinephrine and behavior
- Part III The biology of norepinephrine in CNS pathology
- Part IV Psychopharmacology of norepinephrine
- Index
Summary
Introduction
Adrenergic receptors mediate the central and peripheral actions of the neurohormones norepinephrine and epinephrine. Both of these catecholamine messengers play important roles in the regulation of diverse physiological systems, and thus adrenergic receptors are widely distributed throughout the body. Stimulation of adrenergic receptors by catecholamines released from the sympathetic autonomic nervous system results in a variety of effects, such as increased heart rate, regulation of vascular tone, and bronchodilatation. In the central nervous system, adrenergic receptors are involved in many functions, including memory, learning, alertness, and the response to stress.
Although adrenergic receptors were originally divided into two major types, α and β, the current classification scheme is based on three major types, α1, α2 and β. Each of these three receptor types is further divided into three subtypes: α1A, α1B, α1D; α2A, α2B, α2C; β1, β2, β3. All of these adrenergic receptors are seven transmembrane receptors, each consisting of a single polypeptide chain with seven hydrophobic regions that are thought to form α helical structures and span or transverse the membrane.
Because the mechanism of action of adrenergic receptors includes the activation of guanine nucleotide regulatory binding proteins (G proteins), these receptors are also called G protein-coupled receptors. The binding of norepinephrine (or another agonist) to an adrenergic receptor induces (or stabilizes) a conformational change that allows the receptor to interact with and activate a G protein.
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- Information
- Brain NorepinephrineNeurobiology and Therapeutics, pp. 68 - 94Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2007
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