An Addictive Hormone? Everything you need to know about Adrenaline
The most well-known and renowned hormone of the last century. A hormone so important to our survival depends on the glands that produce it. A hormone so fun that we could become addicted to it. A hormone that activates our Fight or Flight response. We are talking about the unique and incomparable adrenaline.
HEALTHMEDICINEHISTORYPHARMACOLOGY
ADRENALINE HISTORY
The discovery of adrenaline was difficult and mostly developed thanks to incorrect experiments that led to great discoveries. Unlike most endocrine glands, some of which were already discovered by Claudio Galen in the 2nd century. The famous Greek physician, surgeon and philosopher in the Roman Empire.
The adrenal glands, responsible for the production of adrenaline in our body and other mammals. They were overlooked for many centuries. These glands were only discovered in the 16th century. But still its function in the body was a mystery. So much so that by the year 1716, the Bordeaux Academy of Sciences in France held a contest asking: What is the use of the adrenal glands?
Even the famous Charles Montesquieu, father of illustration, was a judge in this competition. After appreciating and reading the submissions for the award, Montesquieu decided that none deserved an award and expressed disappointment, but without losing hope that one day someone would be able to discover how these glands work.
Claudio Galeno. Lithography de Pierre Roche Vigneron, ca. 1865.
Charles Montesquieu. Portrait from Émile Bayard (1837–1891)
The first indication that the adrenal glands were important was in 1855, when the physician Thomas Addison received patients with severe fatigue, weight loss, vomiting, and strange darkening of the skin. He discovered when performing an autopsy on the patients that they all had damaged adrenal glands. Thus proposing that the destruction of this organ, which had no known function, had been the cause of death. This condition due to a lack of cortisol bears his name as Addison's Disease.
Charles-Édouard Brown-Séquard (1817-1894)
A year later, Charles Édouard Brown-Sequard in France set out to test this hypothesis. He removed the adrenal glands of several laboratory animals and found that none could survive without those glands. But even so, none could define the actual function of the glands. Developing tests for how the adrenal glands secrete active chemicals into the blood was a major intellectual hurdle. It was also difficult to prove with the methods available in the second half of the 19th century.
Thomas Adisson (1793-1860). Extracted from Wikipedia
What we should thank Charles-Édoaurd Brown-Sequard for, is that he has left us a jewel for science. In 1889, already being 72 years old and being a renowned scientist, he announced that he had managed to rejuvenate himself through injections of sperm extracts and testicles from various animals (Hoffman, 2013). Yes, as they read it. This man gave everything for science and rejuvenation. Although this experiment was wrong as not enough testosterone was used to generate any verifiable effect, his claims were a worldwide sensation.
Because other scientists were stimulated to think about the possibility that extracts from animal and human organs could have important physiological effects. This is what would take George Oliver and Edward Sharpey-Schafer years later to discover that the extract from the adrenal glands when injected into the bloodstream increases blood pressure (Perez, 2016). This was the first clear example that the substances produced in these glands had tremendous physiological effects.
George Oliver Photograph by J. Caswall Smith, the Gainsborough Studio. Credit: Wellcome Collection
Sir Edward Albert Sharpey-Schafer. Photograph by J. Russell & Sons. Credit: Wellcome Collection
From here began a race to discover the substance that caused the increase in blood pressure. Several laboratories in Germany, England and the United States competed among themselves to purify this substance. But finally, in 1901 the substance responsible for the rise in blood pressure was isolated and patented by a Japanese immigrant in the United States, the Samurai Chemist, Jokichi Takamine. He named it "Adrenaline". Without knowing it, Jokichi had managed to isolate the first hormone in the history of humanity.
Jokichi Takamine (1854-1922)
But unfortunately for that moment the term "hormone" did not even exist (Yamashima, 2003). The term as such was introduced for the first time four years later in 1905 by William Bayliss upon discovering Secretin. Which in some books and surely on Wikipedia as well, they name it as the first discovered hormone. But it really was the adrenaline rush. William Bayliss named it "hormone" from the Greek ὁρμἀω (ormao) which means to set in motion or stimulate. He named them that way, because they are substances that help the body transmit orders and messages between organs.
William Bayliss (1860-1924) Credit: Wellcome Collection
El sistema Endocrino. Imagen extraída de Khan Academy
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Hormonas y glándulas comunes
Hormones are secreted by endocrine glands, such as the adrenal glands, but there are also other glands that secrete hormones such as the pituitary gland, parathyroid glands, thymus gland, pancreas, testicles (men), and ovaries (women). Each one supporting with different hormones depending on the needs of the living being and its interactions with the outside. Working in perfect sync like a grand rehearsed opera that lasts for the lifetime of that specimen.
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
The Autonomous Nervous System (SNA) is responsible for regulating various functions of our body in an autonomous way. Exactly, without us noticing. It is made up of the Sympathetic Nervous System and the Parasympathetic Nervous System. While the parasympathetic nervous system is dominated by the neurotransmitter acetylcholine that acts on muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. And it is in charge of predisposing us to enjoy the pleasures of life such as eating, sleeping or reproducing. The sympathetic nervous system is dominated by adrenaline and norepinephrine acting on adrenergic receptors. And they predispose us to be alert, fight, flee or have an orgasm.
COMPARISON BETWEEN ADRENALINE AND NORADRENALINE
Both Adrenaline and Noradrenaline have a very similar molecular structure, they are like twins, because both belong to the Catecholamine family. If we exchanged the hydrogen molecule attached to the nitrogen with the noradrenaline for a methyl group, which is a carbon atom with three hydrogens, we would get adrenaline. This is why their names within the IUPAC Nomenclature are basically the same, being Noradrenaline 4-[(1R)-2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl]benzene-1,2-diol and Adrenaline (R)-4- [1-hydroxy)(methylamino)ethyl]benzene-1,2-diol.
Molecular structure of Adrenaline
Molecular structure of Noradrenaline
ADRENERGIC RECEPTORS
They are classified into two types: α and β, each of which is further subdivided into subtypes. α1 and α2 for the case of the alpha receptor and β1, β2 and β3 for the case of the beta receptor.
Action of norepinephrine on adrenergic receptors
Alpha receptors have a greater affinity for noradrenaline or norepinephrine by its Greek name and as it is known generically in the pharmaceutical industry. It is a molecule that can function both as a neurotransmitter and as a hormone.
Action of adrenaline on adrenergic receptors
Among the most important organs where adrenaline triggers is the heart, where the heart rate increases;
Beta receptors are more akin to adrenaline and therefore more dependent on stimuli from the adrenal medulla. Since adrenaline is a hormone, it travels to various organs, stimulating them for the action of being alert.
The lungs where it helps vasodilation of the bronchi to accelerate the flow of oxygen to the body.
The muscles where the release of energy by the adipose tissue increases, which translates into accelerating the burning of accumulated fat. And it helps us to be able to increase the power of the muscles.
It is for this reason that extreme sports are a good way to lose weight and define the body.
Embryology of the pons and the medulla oblongata
In order to know what the function and distribution of noradrenergic neurons is, we must go back to the moment before birth. When our brain was forming in our mother's womb, several layers called R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 were formed. There are more, but these are of our current interest because they are the areas affected by Noradrenaline. Formerly the connotation of A1, A2, up to A7 was used to define the areas of the brain affected by Noradrenaline, but recently they discovered that it has more relevance due to its embryological origin. Likewise, in the following table extracted from the EMP Synapse Channel, you will be able to see the location of each area and its function.
When we see someone we like, the visual stimulus will enter through the eyes, it will travel to the thalamus, and if we really like that person. The thalamus communicates to the Locus Ceruleus and it goes crazy. Activating the entire stress system.
It is responsible for the contraction of smooth muscle, resulting in mydriasis (dilation of the pupils), vasoconstriction and constriction of the sphincters. In order to be able to see better, increase blood pressure and not shit or piss when we are fighting or fleeing.
Everyday Example of the Release of Adrenaline
But if we manage to endure this sudden physiological change that your body has generated, the root of the emotion that person provokes in you and you manage to control your breathing. You will be able to reduce much of the effect of adrenaline and recover your normal heart rate, by restoring the balance that your nervous system lost. You will allow yourself to achieve what you really want. For this case study, it is talking to that person you like so much. Invite her to eat, or even steal a kiss. Because you have to remember that, although our nervous system is autonomous, our mind and consciousness also have a weight in controlling our body. It allows us to hack our body for our own convenience.
PONTIUS SYNDROME
If you are one of the people who, instead of lowering your adrenaline levels, look for occasions that generate a rush of this hormone. Well, I have bad news for you, you may be suffering from Pontius Syndrome.
Pontius Syndrome is a rare alteration that generates the loss of perception of danger or fear for the person who suffers from it. It is directly linked to the hyperdevelopment of the trigeminal and abducent nerves or also known as the external oculomotor nerve.
Which generate in the body the overproduction of adrenaline. Generating addiction and the need for strong experiences to feel good. And this is not only a danger because of what the individual who suffers from it can do to get his dose of adrenaline that leaves him satisfied.
Behind the Scenes Filming of: An addictive hormone?
Trigeminal Nerve, image extracted from Wikipedia
Abducent nerve, image extracted from Wikipedia
But also the continued presence of high levels of adrenaline generates cardiac risks because they increase blood pressure, generating hypertension.
But because this syndrome is not recognized by medicine or psychiatry, there are no studies with drugs for its treatment, until the publication of this article. It is directly treated from the psychological side, generating a cognitive restructuring to modify beliefs, cognitive biases and maladaptive behavior patterns. This can help the subject establish control at a cognitive level over their behavior.
As adrenaline also speeds up metabolism, the production and absorption of sugars is also affected, causing hyperglycemia, which is an abnormal increase in blood sugar.
If the problem persists, it can lead to other problems such as anxiety, insomnia, irritability and nervousness. So if you don't want to end up like Tayler Durden from Fight Club, turning into a schizophrenic derangement, I recommend getting treated.
Tyler Durden Insomnia, image taken from the movie "Fight Club"
There are both natural and pharmacological treatments to treat anxiety and insomnia caused by Pontius Syndrome, but we recommend that you first try psychological therapy to avoid having these symptoms.
The signal reaches the somatosensory cortex and the cerebellum. Generating in us unconscious stereotyped movements. These areas of the brain communicate to the rest of the limbic system, such as the hypothalamus, the amygdala, but it will also transmit the message through the spinal cord. By projecting downward through the autonomic nervous system, the command is given to the adrenals to release adrenaline. Which makes the whole body act as if it were being chased by a jaguar, resulting in tachycardia, for this we feel that the heart beats a thousand per hour, our mouths dry and our hands sweat.
