Norepinephrine

Also known as:  NE;  Noradrenalin;  Noradrenaline;  Levarterenol

Norepinephrine is a Catecholamine Stimulatory Neurotransmitter that is chemically similar to Adrenaline.

Aging & Life Extension

 Norepinephrine may possess Life Extension potential:

 A high ratio of Serotonin/NE may accelerate the Aging Process.

 A low ratio of Serotonin/NE may retard the Aging Process.

Immune System

 Norepinephrine may stimulate the release of Hormones that provide the Thymus Gland with correct instructions.

Metabolism

 Norepinephrine may counteract Obesity (by stimulating the body's Brown Adipose Tissue to utilize other Adipose Tissue in the production of Energy).

Nervous System

 Norepinephrine is produced and secreted by the Adrenal Medulla.

 Norepinephrine controls the Adrenergic Nervous System (a component of the Autonomic Nervous System).

 Age related decline in Norepinephrine levels may be associated with Age Associated Memory Impairment.

 Norepinephrine increases Alertness.  ^[1]

 Alzheimer's Disease patients often have insufficient Norepinephrine in their Brains.  ^[2]

 Norepinephrine depletion may cause Apathy.

 Norepinephrine may suppress Appetite.

 Norepinephrine may increase Attention Span.  ^[3]

 Norepinephrine stimulates Beta-1 Adrenergic Receptors.  ^[4]

 Norepinephrine stimulates Beta-2 Adrenergic Receptors (although NE has less affinity with these Receptors than does Adrenaline).  ^[5]

 Norepinephrine deficiency may be a major cause of Depression.  ^[6]

 Norepinephrine may enhance Learning.  ^[7]

 Norepinephrine may enhance Memory.  ^[8]

 Norepinephrine may be involved in Mood & Mood Disorders (due to its central role in the excitatory drives associated with mood and Emotion).  Insufficient Norepinephrine production results in poor Mood.  ^[9]

 Norepinephrine may help to minimize the sensation of Pain:

 Norepinephrine travels via a descending pathway that originates in the Locus Coeruleus of the Medulla of the Brain and terminates in the Dorsal Horn of the Spinal Cord to inhibit the release of Substance P (the Neuropeptide that initiates Nerve Impulses relating to Pain).  ^[10]

 Norepinephrine is essential for drive and motivation and is therefore involved in Willpower.  ^[11]

Sexual System

 Norepinephrine may increase Sexual Desire.  ^[12]

Hormones

 Norepinephrine is the immediate precursor of Adrenaline (a Catecholamine):

 View Norepinephrine's Role in the Synthesis of Catecholamines

 Norepinephrine stimulates Receptors in the Hypothalamus that activate the release of Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone (GHRH):

 Norepinephrine is required for the release of Human Growth Hormone (hGH).

 Norepinephrine stimulates the release of Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone (LHRH) from the Hypothalamus.  ^[13]

 The nightly production of Melatonin occurs primarily as a result of Norepinephrine release from postganglionic sympathetic Neurons that terminate in the Pineal Gland:

 Following its release from these Neurons, Norepinephrine interacts with Adrenergic Receptors which (via a specific G-Protein) in turn activate Adenyl Cyclase in the Membrane of Pinealocytes (Cells of the Pineal Gland).

 Activation of Adenyl Cyclase in the Pineal Gland increases the intracellular production of Cyclic AMP (cAMP) which then activates the N-acetyl Transferase (NAT) enzyme (a precursor for Melatonin synthesis from N-acetyl Serotonin).

 Approximately 85% of Melatonin produced in the Pineal Gland occurs as a result of Norepinephrine activating Beta-Adrenergic Receptors and approximately 15% occurs as a result of activation of Alpha-Adrenergic Receptors.