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Related Concept Videos

Adrenergic Neurons: Neurotransmission01:27

Adrenergic Neurons: Neurotransmission

Postganglionic sympathetic fibers (except those supplying the sweat glands) releasing noradrenaline or norepinephrine are called noradrenergic or adrenergic neurons. Noradrenaline, dopamine, adrenaline, or epinephrine are collectively called "catecholamines" as they contain a catechol moiety and an amine side chain. The five stages of neurotransmitter release involve their synthesis, storage, release, reuptake and metabolism.
Synthesis: Catecholamine synthesis requires tyrosine, which is taken...
Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake01:21

Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake

Certain drugs can affect how neurotransmitters called catecholamines, are released or taken back up in the adrenergic neuron. They can have different effects on the body's sympathetic transmission. Reserpine, a natural compound found in the Rauwolfia shrub, blocks a transporter called vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT), which leads to a buildup of catecholamines in the cell and reduces sympathetic transmission. Another drug called guanethidine works in multiple ways, including blocking...
Sympathetic Signaling01:31

Sympathetic Signaling

Sympathetic signaling, a vital part of the autonomic nervous system, plays a crucial role in mobilizing the body's resources in response to stress or emergencies. It involves the transmission of nerve impulses from sympathetic preganglionic fibers to postganglionic fibers. This results in the release of specific neurotransmitters and activation of adrenergic receptors.
Sympathetic preganglionic fibers release the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) onto the ganglionic neurons in the...
Adrenergic Receptors: β Subtype01:26

Adrenergic Receptors: β Subtype

β-adrenoceptors have varied sensitivities towards adrenaline, noradrenaline, and isoprenaline. The order of agonist potency is as follows:
Isoprenaline > Adrenaline > Noradrenaline
Neurotransmitter binding to these receptors causes activation of adenylyl cyclase resulting in increased concentrations of cAMP and modulation of calcium ion channels within the cell. They are further classified into β1, β2, and β3 subtypes.
β1-adrenoceptors: β1-adrenoceptors have equal affinities for...
Sympathetic Pathways: Collateral Ganglia and Adrenal Medulla01:27

Sympathetic Pathways: Collateral Ganglia and Adrenal Medulla

The sympathetic pathways of the collateral ganglia and adrenal medulla serve unique but interconnected roles in the sympathetic response.
Collateral Ganglia
Sympathetic preganglionic axons reach the collateral ganglia along the route of splanchnic nerves. These nerves bypass the sympathetic trunk and communicate with sympathetic postganglionic neurons housed in the prevertebral ganglia. These ganglia supply the organs of the abdominopelvic cavity.
The greater splanchnic nerve, formed by the...
Adrenergic Agonists: Indirect-Acting Agents01:25

Adrenergic Agonists: Indirect-Acting Agents

Indirect-acting adrenergic agonists potentiate the effects of endogenous catecholamines through different mechanisms without directly binding to adrenoceptors.
One mechanism involves depleting stored catecholamines by displacing them from synaptic vesicles. These agents, known as "displacers," are transported into vesicles at the expense of noradrenaline. Examples include amphetamine and tyramine, which lack a catechol moiety, resulting in prolonged action, improved oral bioavailability, and...

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Preparation of Acute Brain Slices Using an Optimized N-Methyl-D-glucamine Protective Recovery Method
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Norepinephrine and the dentate gyrus.

Carolyn W Harley1

  • 1Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada. charley@mun.ca

Progress in Brain Research
|September 4, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Norepinephrine, primarily acting via beta adrenoceptors, enhances synaptic plasticity and metabolic support in the dentate gyrus, crucial for learning and memory processes like pattern completion and episodic memory.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neurochemistry
  • Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

  • Norepinephrine (NE) is a key neuromodulator influencing cognitive functions.
  • The dentate gyrus (DG) plays a critical role in memory formation and retrieval.
  • Understanding NE's precise role in the DG is essential for deciphering memory mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and synthesize current knowledge on norepinephrine's role in the dentate gyrus.
  • To evaluate the cellular and behavioral effects of norepinephrine in the DG.
  • To propose hypotheses regarding norepinephrine's functional actions and receptor mediation.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on norepinephrine innervation and receptor patterns in the DG.
  • Analysis of functional effects at cellular (electrophysiology, metabolism) and behavioral levels.

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  • Integration of data to support proposed hypotheses.

    • Main Results:

    • Norepinephrine's actions are mainly mediated by beta adrenoceptors, enhancing excitatory input and synaptic plasticity.
    • Cellular effects include modulation of interneurons, increased granule cell firing, and altered EEG power.
    • Norepinephrine selectively enhances spatial input processing, promotes long-term potentiation, and aids memory retrieval and learning.

    Conclusions:

    • Norepinephrine, through beta adrenoceptors, facilitates synaptic potentiation and metabolic support in the dentate gyrus.
    • Its effects on neuronal activity and plasticity are critical for learning and memory.
    • Differential levels of norepinephrine may support distinct memory processes, from retrieval to encoding of long-term episodic memories.