catecholamine
nounUK /katəˈkəʊləmiːn/
Etymology From catechol + -amine.
1
Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Natural sciences, Physical sciences Any of a class of aromatic amines derived from pyrocatechol that are hormones produced by the adrenal gland.
- Epinephrine and dopamine are two other catecholamine transmitters.1988, Lubert Stryer, Biochemistry, 3rd edition, page 1025:
- The catecholamines are used in several motivational and emotional systems of the brain, and their concentration is regulated by proteins that break them down or recycle them.2011, Steven Pinker, The Better Angels of Our Nature, Penguin, published 2012, page 746:
- Synonyms
- catecholamine
- Derived terms
- catecholaminergic, catecholaminic
- Hypernyms
- benzenediol, hormone