Cardiovascular Physiology Concepts
                                    Richard E. Klabunde, Ph.D.

Circulating Catecholamines

Circulating catecholamines, epinephrine and norepinephrine, originate from two sources. Epinephrine is released by the adrenal medulla upon activation of preganglionic sympathetic nerves innervating this tissue. This activation occurs during times of stress (e.g., exercise, heart failure, hemorrhage, emotional stress or excitement, pain). Norepinephrine is also  released by the adrenal medulla (about 20% of its total catecholamine release is norepinephrine). The primary source of circulating norepinephrine is spillover from sympathetic nerves innervating blood vessels. Normally, most of the norepinephrine released by sympathetic nerves is taken back up by the nerves (some is also taken up by extra-neuronal tissues) where it is metabolized. A small amount of norepinephrine, however, diffuses into the blood and circulates throughout the body. At times of high sympathetic nerve activation, the amount of norepinephrine entering the blood increases dramatically.

There is also a specific adrenal medullary disorder (chromaffin cell tumor) that causes very high circulating levels of catecholamine – pheochromocytoma. This can lead to a hypertensive crisis.

Circulating epinephrine causes:

• Increased heart rate and inotropy (ß₁-adrenoceptor mediated)

• Vasoconstriction in most systemic arteries and veins (postjunctional a ₁ and a ₂ adrenoceptors)

• Vasodilation in muscle and liver vasculatures at low concentrations (b₂-adrenoceptor); vasoconstriction at high concentrations (a₁-adrenoceptor mediated)

• The overall cardiovascular response to low-to-moderate circulating concentrations of epinephrine is increased cardiac output and a redistribution of the cardiac output to muscular and hepatic circulations with only a small change in mean arterial pressure. Although cardiac output is increased, arterial pressure does not change much because the systemic vascular resistance falls due to b₂-adrenoceptor activation.  At high plasma concentrations, epinephrine increases arterial pressure because of binding to a-adrenoceptors on blood vessels, which offsets the b₂-adrenoceptor mediated vasodilation.

Circulating norepinephrine causes:

• Increased heart rate (although only transiently) and increased inotropy (ß₁-adrenoceptor mediated) are the direct effects norepinephrine on the heart.

• Vasoconstriction occurs in most systemic arteries and veins (postjunctional a ₁ and a ₂ adrenoceptors)

• The overall cardiovascular response is increased cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance, which results in an elevation in arterial blood pressure. Heart rate, although initially stimulated by norepinephrine, decreases due to activation of baroreceptors and vagal-mediated slowing of the heart rate.

Pharmacologic blocking of the actions of circulating catecholamines

Because catecholamines act on the heart and blood vessels through alpha and beta adrenoceptors, the cardiovascular actions of catecholamines can be blocked by treatment with alpha-blockers and beta-blockers. Blocking either the alpha or beta adrenoceptor alone alters the response of the catecholamine because the other adrenoceptor will still bind to the catecholamine. For example, if a low dose of epinephrine is administered in the presence of alpha-adrenoceptor blockade, the unopposed b₂-adrenoceptor activation will cause a large hypotensive response due to systemic vasodilation despite the cardiac stimulation that occurs due to b₁-adrenoceptor activation.

DISCLAIMER: These materials are for educational purposes only, and are not a source of medical decision-making advice.

© 1999-2008 Richard E. Klabunde, all rights reserved.