Description
Catecholamines are biologically active substances that mediate intercellular interactions. They are synthesized in the adrenal medulla and in the nervous system (central and sympathetic) and act as mediators and neurohormones. The concentration of catecholamines in the blood is not constant throughout the day and is associated with emotional stress and physical exertion. Main functions: they increase neuromuscular conduction, enhance reaction speed and thinking speed, control sexual behavior, aggressiveness, and mood level, participate in neurohumoral regulation and nervous trophism and in metabolism (stimulate lipid breakdown, increase the intensity of nitrogen metabolism), and maintain the constancy of the body's internal environment (homeostasis). Vanillylmandelic acid, homovanillic acid, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid are the end products of catecholamine metabolism, which are excreted from the body in the urine. Combined determination of the levels of catecholamines and their metabolites in urine is used for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma.
Period of execution
Within 7 days. The specified time does not include the day of biomaterial collection
Biomaterial type