[Peripheral secretion and inactivation of catecholamines (adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine)]

In spite of the biochemical relationship between catecholamines (E,NE,DA), the unity of the adrenergic system is only apparent; catecholamines are present in numerous pools, which exhibit different anatomical and cellular localizations, secretory patterns, control of release, physiological functions, inactivation schemes and metabolic behaviour. The main sources of catecholamines in the periphery are the orthosympathetic nervous system, which is permanently active in maintaining homoeostasy, and the adrenal medulla, an essential element in the struggle against stress. In addition to these large pools, catecholamines are found also in extra adrenal chromaffin tissue and in sympathetic ganglions; the latter represents a potential store of amines, whilst ganglionic dopamine-rich interneurones are important links in the regulation of orthosympathetic activity. Rather than by a topographic distinction, it seems more satisfactory to classify the catecholamines spread in adrenergic fields into a small number of pools possessing their own physiological functions and inactivation patterns. Two main pools of catecholamines in the periphery may be described: The functional pool, represented by those catecholamines already released, or able to be released; in this pool are found plasma and adrenal medullary catecholamines and NE from sympathetic nerve endings. The tissue pool, consisting of the synthesis and storage compartments, which are poorly penetrated by plasma pool with respect to their high possibilities for synthesis and storage. Catecholamines from cellular bodies and axons of sympathetic neurons and a part of the adrenal medullary amines may be related to it. Two other pools of catecholamines have to be reported: a potential extrachromaffin pool, which is apparently negligible in the physiological state, but able to exhibit its synthetic and secretory capacities in particularly critical situations; an intraganglionic dopamine pool, which plays a modulator role in ganglionic synaptic transmission; its mode of secretion and inactivation are not necessarily the same as those of the above pools. To such a physiological diversity, specific regulatory processes, correspond the aim of which is, to stop physiological activity of released catecholamines, by means of physical and chemical inactivating mechanisms; to limit the amount of released product by local control of the neuromediator outflow; to minimize losses of active compound by neuronal and cellular uptake and perhaps by sulfoconjugation; to destroy the excess of synthesized or reabsorbed amines when tissue or neuronal concentration becomes too high (tissue metabolism).