Overview Of Norepinephrine By Seth Johnson
Norepinephrine is known as a “stress hormone” that is released at a time of high stress. It is responsible for the “fight or flight” instincts. In general it is secreted into the blood from medulla of the adrenal glands (located atop the kidneys). It is also secreted as a neurotransmitter, which is released to a more direct location in the body to arouse or awaken certain parts and not the whole body.
A hormone, by definition, is a compound produced by an
endocrine gland and released into the bloodstream
where it can find its target cells at some distance from its
actual site of release. A neurotransmitter on the other
hand is a compound released from a nerve terminal.
There are numerous uses for norepinephrine. It is most
commonly used as a supplement to regulate circulation
of hormones (irregularity of norepinephrine circulation
being the cause of depression and emotional instability.
Norepinephrine is also combined with compounds such as
seratonin to combat fibromyalgia, a nerve disorder
that causes physical pain.
** Background picture is an example of reuptake at a nerve synapse**