Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor

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Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor

The Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor (pronounced as "alpha-two ad-ren-er-gic re-cep-tor"), also known as α2 adrenergic receptor or simply α2 receptor, is a type of adrenergic receptor that is primarily involved in the regulation of neurotransmitter release from sympathetic nerves and from adrenergic neurons in the central nervous system.

Etymology

The term "Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor" is derived from the Greek word "α" (alpha), which is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, and the term "adrenergic", which refers to the action of the neurotransmitter adrenaline (also known as epinephrine). The number "2" in the name indicates that it is one of several different types of adrenergic receptors.

Function

The Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor is a G protein-coupled receptor that inhibits the release of norepinephrine (also known as noradrenaline), a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in the fight-or-flight response. By inhibiting the release of norepinephrine, the Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor helps to regulate the body's response to stress and anxiety.

Related Terms

  • Adrenergic receptor: A type of protein that responds to adrenaline.
  • Neurotransmitter: A chemical substance that transmits nerve impulses across a synapse.
  • Sympathetic nerves: Part of the autonomic nervous system that increases the heart rate, constricts blood vessels, and raises blood pressure.
  • Central nervous system: The part of the nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord.
  • G protein-coupled receptor: A large protein family of receptors that sense molecules outside the cell and activate inside signal transduction pathways.
  • Norepinephrine: A neurotransmitter that is important for attentiveness, emotions, sleeping, dreaming, and learning.
  • Fight-or-flight response: A physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival.

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