TY - JOUR
T1 - Norepinephrine
T2 - Hormone and neurotransmitter in man
AU - Silverberg, A. B.
AU - Shah, S. D.
AU - Haymond, M. W.
AU - Cryer, P. E.
PY - 1978/1/1
Y1 - 1978/1/1
N2 - To determine whether norepinephrine could subserve a hormonal as well as a neurotransmitter function, norepinephrine was infused for 60 min into each of five normal young men in doses of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0 μg/min. After infusion, the plasma norepinephrine concentration fell with a mean (±SD) half-time of 2.4 ± 0.7 min. The mean (±SD) norepinephrine metabolic clearance rate was 3,070 ± 200 ml/min. The calculated basal plasma norepinephrine production rate was 0.7 μg/min. The blood pressure and circulating glycerol, acetoacetate, β-hydroxybutyrate, and glucose (increased) and the heart rate and circulating insulin, lactate, pyruvate, and alanine (decreased) exhibited highly significant parabolic relationships with the steady-state plasma norepinephrine concentrations. However, norepinephrine levels in excess of 1,800 pg/ml were required to produce hemodynamic and/or metabolic effects. Thus, under usual conditions, the biologic actions of norepinephrine can be attributed only to its sympathetic neurotransmitter function. Plasma norepinephrine concentrations do at times exceed 1,800 pg/ml during exercise and during major acute illness. Thus, under conditions of stress, norepinephrine may subserve a hormonal, as well as a neurotransmitter, function.
AB - To determine whether norepinephrine could subserve a hormonal as well as a neurotransmitter function, norepinephrine was infused for 60 min into each of five normal young men in doses of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0 μg/min. After infusion, the plasma norepinephrine concentration fell with a mean (±SD) half-time of 2.4 ± 0.7 min. The mean (±SD) norepinephrine metabolic clearance rate was 3,070 ± 200 ml/min. The calculated basal plasma norepinephrine production rate was 0.7 μg/min. The blood pressure and circulating glycerol, acetoacetate, β-hydroxybutyrate, and glucose (increased) and the heart rate and circulating insulin, lactate, pyruvate, and alanine (decreased) exhibited highly significant parabolic relationships with the steady-state plasma norepinephrine concentrations. However, norepinephrine levels in excess of 1,800 pg/ml were required to produce hemodynamic and/or metabolic effects. Thus, under usual conditions, the biologic actions of norepinephrine can be attributed only to its sympathetic neurotransmitter function. Plasma norepinephrine concentrations do at times exceed 1,800 pg/ml during exercise and during major acute illness. Thus, under conditions of stress, norepinephrine may subserve a hormonal, as well as a neurotransmitter, function.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0018238262&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 24347
AN - SCOPUS:0018238262
VL - 3
SP - E252-E256
JO - American Journal of Physiology Endocrinology Metabolism and Gastrointestinal Physiology
JF - American Journal of Physiology Endocrinology Metabolism and Gastrointestinal Physiology
SN - 0363-6100
IS - 3
ER -