A class of G proteincoupled receptors that are targets of the noradrenaline (norepinephrine) and adrenaline (epinephrine).
Receptors in the brain and other organ systems (including, for example, the heart and blood vessels) that are the binding sites for the catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine as well as for adrenergic drugs. Epinephrine plays an important role in the body’s response to emergency situations. The fight-or-flight response is initiated through activation of the sympathetic nervous sustem with release of epinephrine. Norepinephrine acts as both a hormone and a neurotransmitter. As a stress hormone, norepinephrine increases the availability of food-energy stores and stimulates alertness and arousal in the brain. As a neurotransmitter, norepinephrine plays an important role in attentiveness, emotions, sleeping, dreaming, and learning. Adrenergic receptors are divided into two main groups, alpha and beta, each of which has several subtypes.
The sites in the body on which adrenaline and comparable stimulants of the sympathetic nervous system act. Drugs which have an adrenaline-like action are described as being adrenergic.
A cell membrane protein that mediates the effects of adrenergic stimulation on target organs by catecholamines.
Within the realm of adrenergic receptors, we encounter three distinct families, namely alpha1, alpha2, and beta, each encompassing three unique subtypes. These nine subtypes, individually encoded by separate genes, exhibit distinct drug affinities and possess specific regulatory characteristics.