Adrenaline (epinephrine) tyrosine derivative Makayla Veatch

Where is it produced? Adrenaline is produced in the medulla of the Adrenal glands.

Target cells Adrenaline is sent to all cells and organs in the body associated with the fight-or-flight response. (Ex: Heart, Lungs, Sweat glands, blood cells, etc…)

Entering the Target Cell. To enter the target cell, adrenaline binds to the protein receptors on the outside of the target cell. This receptor then binds to the adrenaline and allows it into the cell.

What causes production of adrenaline? Adrenaline will be produced in response to a stressful situation that occurs. It will start to prepare the body for the fight-or-flight response within 2-3 minutes of the situation happening.

Specific time when it’s more active? There isn’t a specific time in the life cycle when the adrenal glands are more active because they are only active upon an involuntary response.

How much? The purpose of adrenaline is to prepare the body for strenuous activities or for dealing with a major stressor. The amount released depends on the person and situation they are in; as a child who is 10 years old who is scared of being alone in the dark will not produce the same amount of adrenaline as a 40 year old who is going in for a yearly review for their job.

What does it do? Adrenaline prepares the body for strenuous activity and also helps cope with the stresses of life. It causes many different things to happen in your body. Your bronchial tubes will dilate to let more air in, you will take deeper breaths to get more oxygen, your heart rate will increase along with the size of the beats to get blood and more oxygen to your body, your pupils dilate to let more light in, and you start to perspire.

Too much? If too much adrenaline is produced, a likely cause is a phaeochromocytoma or a rare tumor on the adrenal medulla. The tumor will cause a constant release of adrenaline, which will cause rapid heart beat, high blood pressure, anxiety, weight loss, excessive sweating and palpitations.

Not enough? It is very rare for the body to not produce enough adrenaline. However it does happen in some people. This will cause the body not to properly prepare itself for the purpose that adrenaline serves.

Atypical amounts

Synthetically replaced? Adrenaline can by injected to treat life- threatening allergic reactions, respiratory arrest, and cardiac arrest. This is because adrenaline helps the body prepare for the strenuous situations and allows your body to breath deeper and causes faster and bigger heart beats to prevent cardiac and respiratory arrest.

Medical treatment If there is a tumor on the adrenal glands causing to much adrenaline to be released, you can have surgery to put an alpha-blocker that render the body less sensitive to the surges of adrenaline. This can help with the adrenaline that is being produced.