Adrenal is on the sympathetic system - got a reference

[Guest guest]

So, if a person has low thyroid and adrenal function would she want

to make sure she is not turning down the sympathetic system with high

magnesium food sources?

Laurel

Got a reference.

http://www.ndrf.org/ans.htm#The%20Adrenal%20Medulla

The Adrenal Medulla

The central part of the adrenal glands (the adrenal medulla) contains

a collection of sympathetic nerve cells specialized in at least two

important respects. Because of their proximity to the adrenal cortex

which surrounds the medulla and secretes hydrocortisone (or

cortisol), the neurons of the medulla are able to synthesize not only

norepinephrine but also, by attaching a methyl group to this

compound, epinephrine (or adrenaline). The adrenal medulla is the

only source of more than trivial amounts of epinephrine that enters

the blood stream. The second aspect of specialization of the adrenal

medulla is in its responses, via the sympathetic efferent nerves that

reach it, to specific types of stimuli that have little or no effect

on the rest of the autonomic nervous system. Thus, whereas changing

from recumbency to the upright posture activates mainly the

sympathetic neurons of the blood vessels where norepinephrine is

released with resulting elevation mainly of plasma norepinephrine

levels, a fall in blood sugar induced by an injection or excessive

release of insulin causes a predominant increase in plasma

epinephrine, the concentration of which may rise to 3 or 4 times the

concomitant level of plasma norepinephrine. Situations such as

emotional excitement, fear, apprehension, psychic distress, panic

reactions, sexual activity and fight-or-flight stimuli probably

activate many parts of the sympathetic nervous systems including the

adrenal medullae.

It is evident, therefore, that while we are not constantly aware of

the activity of the autonomic nervous system as we are of unusual

sensory and motor events, the normal functioning of the autonomic

nervous system day and night, from heart-beat to heart-beat, plays a

largely unconscious but vital role in our livelihood. It is not

surprising, therefore, that autonomic abnormalities, though they are

usually more difficult to recognize than a severe pain, a sensory

loss or paralysis of a limb, may be even more important in impairing

the quality and even jeopardizing the continuation of life.

H.P. Streeten, MB, DPhil, FRCP, FACP

Emeritus Professor of Medicine

SUNY Health Science Center

Syracuse, NY 13210