Question

Epinephrine (Adrenaline) is commonly used to counteract asthma attacks (when bronchi, or airways, get constricted in a spasm and block the breathing).
Explain, how that works. Which adrenergic receptors would be involved here? Answer must be 100 words or more.

Answer 1

The epinephrine acts as an alpha and beta adrenergic agonist, also known as sympathomimetic agents ,it activates the adrenergic receptors through stimulation of sympathetic nerves. The epinephrine (adrenaline) hormones released from adrenal cortex triggers smooth muscle relaxation mediated by the adrenergic receptor expression of the tissue .In lungs ,it causes the relaxation of the bronchial muscles and helps in keeping airways wide open which ease the condition of asthma attacks. Epinephrine acts in inhibiting the secretion of histamine, which ease the breathing difficulties. The epinephrine binds to the beta adrenoceptor and mediates the bronchodilation and the alpha adrenoceptor causes reduction in spasm and oedema which would have caused the block in breathing and therefore inhibit the bronchoconstrictor neural pathway.