Alpha-2 Receptors

Today we are finding out what an Alpha-2 receptor is.  I take a break from reading 50 Shades to read something more sensible like a Dr. Suess book and we explore why you shouldn't sit in a chair when you know it is broken.

Off the top of my head:  I dunno,  I think it is a chemical receptor.  Some medications act on it in their mechanism of action.  Ultimately I am very unsure on the topic.

My research today: Alpha-2 receptors are one type of adrenergic receptors also known as adrenoceptors.  As an aside "Adrenoceptors" sounds like a good name for a basketball team.  Adrenoceptors are in many different cells in your body and their primary purpose is to trigger a relatively complex range of autonomic responses associated with your "fight-or-flight" instinct.

Basically, adrenergic receptors like Aplha-2 are what your body needs when shit gets real.  Got a gun pointed at your head?  Then your adrenoceptors are already at work doing all kinds of things automatically to help you escape and to prepare you body for battle.

Not just real, but ALL the way real.

For today we are only looking at the autonomic responses that alpha-2 receptors are associated with. It is a very interesting topic and I might do a series on this but I can only type so much in one night.  So alpha-2 activation is a presynaptic action meaning it is the end of a discharge across a synapse.  Synapse is electrical or chemical signals between cells in your body.

These re some of the things that alpha-2 activation does in your body.  This is a complicated process and all of your adrenoceptors work in conjunction with each other to acheieve a global effect on your body but let's see how alpha-2 contributes:

• Acts on a type of pancreatic cell to inhibit insulin release temporarily increasing your blood sugar to make large amounts of expendable energy more available in your blood stream.
• Inhibits the release of norepinephrine.  Norepinephrine does many things like increases heart rate, increases blood flow to your skeleton and relaxes smooth wall muscle in your gut. 
• Inhibits acetylcholine release.  Actylcholine is an important neurotransmitter that does many things as well.  Actylcholine can enhance sensory perceptions like smell, or vision.  It also increases skeletal muscle contraction and inhibits cardiac muscle contraction.

Basically alpha-2 acts as a mediator for your autonomic responses so your body doesn't burn out in overdrive.  It works specifically in conjunction with your alpha-1 receptors when shit gets real.

It keeps you from going Super Sayan and destroying a planet or something.

Pharmacologically medications that act on alpha-2 recpetors can either be antagonists (inhibits alpha-2 activation) or agonists (increases alpha-2 activation).  Agonists are used to treat hypertension and also narcotic withdrawl.  More recently they are being studied to treat ADHD in children.  Antagonists increase norepinephrine availability increasing vasodialation peripherally.  The supplement Yohimbine is an alpha-2 antagonist found in many energy drinks and was once used to treat erectile dysfunction.

Okay, I am done.  I hope I didn't f that up too much.  It is a complicated subject.  I could see writing all or part of a thesis on it.

Quest to 180:

Current Weight:  227
Activity Today:  My foot is better today.  Almost 8K steps.  Gonna be back at it soon.
Diet today:  Ok

The MAN:
Confidence Level:  Improved
Social Engineering Tactics:  Mind reading.
Comments:  I can read your mind!  Soon.


Fun Stuff:
Reading:  Today we are reading Aristotle and ignoring the 50 shades books to keep our sanity.
Watching:  I am not watching anything in particular today.
Comments:  Also I am a little sour about breaking my desk chair and am currently sitting cock-eyed on it wondering when I will be thrown to the ground.

Questions or comments can be submitted to dudaday@gmail.com

Disclaimer:  I am not a health care provider, any information presented in this blog should not be considered advice it is mearly an outlet to slake my curiosity.  You should always consult your primary medical provider for any concerns or illness.  Unlike Tylenol, I am not approved by the FDA or American Medical Association to treat or provide relief for any ailment.