Synthesis, Storage, and Secretion of Adrenal Medullary Hormones: Physiology and Pathophysiology

The sections in this article are: 1 Phylogeny and Ontogeny of Adrenal Medulla 2 Morphology of Adrenal Medulla 2.1 Types of Chromaffin Cells 2.2 Blood Supply of the Adrenal Gland 2.3 Innervation of the Adrenal Gland 3 Biosynthesis of Catecholamines in Adrenal Medulla and its Regulation 3.1 Tyrosine Hydroxylase 3.2 Aromatic-L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase 3.3 Dopamine β-Hydroxylase 3.4 Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase 3.5 Activity-Induced Changes in Enzyme Activity 3.6 Activity-Induced Changes in Tyrosine Hydroxylase Gene Expression 3.7 Role of Glucocorticoids in Regulation of Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase 4 Role of Adrenal Catecholamines in Regulation of Adrenal Cortical Function 4.1 Effects of Catecholamines on Adrenocortical Responses to Corticotropin 4.2 Role of Catecholamines in Compensatory Adrenal Growth 5 Neuropeptides Released from Adrenal Chromaffin Cells 6 Regulation of Catecholamine and Neuropeptide Secretion from Adrenal Medulla 7 Adrenal Medullary Responses to Stress 7.1 Ontogeny of Responses 7.2 Adrenomedullary Responses to Stressful Stimuli 7.3 Relation between Adrenal Medullary and Sympathetic Nervous System Responses to Stress 7.4 Physiological Interactions between Adrenal Cortical and Medullary Responses to Stress 7.5 Does the Adrenal Medulla Play a Role in the Activities of Daily Living? 7.6 Are Alterations in Adrenal Medullary Function Involved in the Pathogenesis of Chronic Glucose Intolerance? 8 Release of Catecholamines and Neuropeptides from Chromaffin Tumors 9 conclusion9 Conclusions