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Octopamine

Octopamine is a neurotransmitter that occurs in the nervous system of invertebrates. It is a structural analog of noradrenaline in vertebrates.

Physiological function

Octopamine is used to control complex behavioral patterns (social behavior, flight, food intake, ...) and increases the excitability of muscle cells. It is present in light organs and is involved in the control of metabolic activity.

Physiological function

  • Control of complex behavioral patterns (social behavior, flight, food intake)
  • Increases the excitability of muscle fibers
  • Learning, memory, conditioning
  • Control of metabolic activity
  • Release of peptide hormones

Need in sport

According to analyses, octopamine is the active ingredient that is primarily responsible for fat mobilization. Octopamine occurs not only in plants, but also naturally in the human body (which probably explains why they have not yet been banned). Octapomin is a selective beta-3 agonist, in other words, it interacts exclusively with beta-3 adrenergic receptors. Some advertisements have suggested that this fact is beneficial because any activation of beta-1 and beta-2 cell receptors automatically puts the cardiovascular system under stress. Beta-3 receptors are found exclusively in fat.

Side effect

Unfortunately, another ephedrine-induced cardiovascular side effect has also been observed in association with octopamine: increased blood pressure (hypertension). Ketecholamines such as ephedrine and norepinephine contribute to a constriction of blood vessels that increases blood pressure. Due to its structural relationship with catecholamines, ephedrine also raises blood pressure slightly, but this is not a problem for most users. Octopamine is also similar in structure to catecholamines, which is why it can also have a blood pressure-raising effect.

References

  1. Arch Insect Biochem Physiol. 2003 Sep;54(1):1-13. tyramine and octopamine: antagonistic modulators of behavior and metabolism. Roeder T, Seifert M, Kahler C, Gewecke M.
  2. Neurosci Lett. 2003 Jul 31;346(1-2):89-92. HPLC electrochemical detection of trace amines in human plasma and platelets and expression of mRNA transcripts of trace amine receptors in circulating leukocytes. D'Andrea G, Terrazzino S, Fortin D, Farruggio A, Rinaldi L, Leon A.
  3. Physiol Behav. 2002 Aug;76(4-5):575-8. Intracerebroventricular administration of octopamine stimulates food intake of chicks through alpha(2)-adrenoceptor. Bungo T, Higaki T, Ueda H, Furuse M.
  4. J Neurochem. 1985 Jun;44(6):1862-7. m-Octopamine: normal occurrence with p-octopamine in mammalian sympathetic nerves. Ibrahim KE, Couch MW, Williams CM, Fregly MJ, Midgley JM.
  5. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2001 Oct;299(1):96-104. dual action of octopamine on glucose transport into adipocytes: inhibition via beta3-adrenoceptor activation and stimulation via oxidation by amine oxidases. Visentin V, Morin N, Fontana E, Prevot D, Boucher J, Castan I, Valet P, Grujic D, Carpene C.
  6. J Dent Res. 1993 Jun;72(6):993-1000. the effects of p-octopamine on salivary flow rates and protein secretion by rat submandibular glands. Okina A, Abe K, Tashiro M, Ishibashi K.
  7. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2003 Apr;367(4):333-41. Epub 2003 Mar 20. Agonist-specific coupling of a cloned human alpha1A-adrenoceptor to different second messenger pathways. Richardson J, Chatwin H, Hirasawa A, Tsujimoto G, Evans PD.
  8. Br J Pharmacol. 1989 Jun;97(2):483-9. M-octopamine injected into the paraventricular nucleus induces eating in rats: a comparison with noradrenaline-induced eating. Fletcher PJ, Paterson IA.
  9. Br J Pharmacol. 2000 Nov;131(5):933-41. A comparison of agonist-specific coupling of cloned human alpha(2)-adrenoceptor subtypes. Rudling JE, Richardson J, Evans PD.
  10. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol. 2000 Jan;125(1):33-44. effects of octopamine on lipolysis, glucose transport and amine oxidation in mammalian fat cells. Fontana E, Morin N, Prevot D, Carpene C.
  11. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 1999 Apr;359(4):310-21. selective activation of beta3-adrenoceptors by octopamine: comparative studies in mammalian fat cells. Carpene C, Galitzky J, Fontana E, Atgie C, Lafontan M, Berlan M.
  12. C R Acad Sci III. 1993;316(5):519-23. [Specific stimulation of adipose tissue adrenergic beta 3 receptors by octopamine] [Article in French] Galitzky J, Carpene C, Lafontan M, Berlan M.
  13. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2002 Nov;26(11):1442-50. Immunohistochemical identification of the beta(3)-adrenoceptor in intact human adipocytes and ventricular myocardium: effect of obesity and treatment with ephedrine and caffeine. De Matteis R, Arch JR, Petroni ML, Ferrari D, Cinti S, Stock MJ.
  14. J Auton Pharmacol. 1998 Feb;18(1):13-9. Stimulatory effect of octopamine on beta 3-adrenoceptors to lower the uptake of [14C]-deoxy-D-glucose into rat adipocytes in vitro. Yen ST, Li MH, Hsu CT, Lee TL, Cheng JT.
  15. Neurosci Res. 1995 Jan;21(3):235-40. Stimulatory effect of dopamine on acid secretion from the isolated rat stomach. Tsai LH, Cheng JT.
  16. Neurosci Res. 1990 Dec;9(3):202-7. Inhibitory effect of octopamine on dopamine D-1 receptor in striatal homogenates of the rat. Cheng JT, Shen CL, Jou TC.
  17. J Neurochem. 2000 Apr;74(4):1538-52. Interaction of Na+, K+, and Cl- with the binding of amphetamine, octopamine, and tyramine to the human dopamine transporter. Li LB, Reith ME.
  18. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1992 Feb;199(2):230-5. octopamine and phenylethylamine inhibit prolactin secretion both in vivo and in vitro. Becu-Villalobos D, Thyssen SM, Rey EB, Lux-Lantos V, Libertun C.
  19. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 1993 Nov;20(11):713-21. Inhibitory effect of octopamine on the release of endogenous acetylcholine from isolated myenteric synaptosomes of guinea-pig. Chang SS, Cheng JT.
  20. Clin Invest Med. 1988 Dec;11(6):396-402. effects of octopamine on renal function in anaesthetized dogs. Levy M.
  21. J Pharmacol. 1984 Jan-Mar;15(1):1-15. [Antidepressant effects of 3 endogenous monoamines: psychopharmacologic profiles of noradrenaline, octopamine and phenethylamine] [Article in French] Bulach C, Doare L, Massari B, Simon P.
  22. Medical dictionary online, http://www.online-medical-dictionary.org, octopamine entry
  23. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1975;8(1):33-9. Bioavailability of m-octopamine in man related to its metabolism. Hengstmann JH, Konen W, Konen C, Eichelbaum M, Dengler HJ.