adrenergic, a.
(ædrɪˈnɜːdʒɪk)
[f. adrenaline + Gr. ἔργ-ον work + -ic.]
Of the sympathetic nerve-fibres: liberating adrenalin or a substance resembling adrenalin; also, stimulated by adrenalin.
| 1934 H. H. Dale in Jrnl. Physiol. LXXX. 11 P, We seem to need words which will briefly indicate action by two kinds of chemical transmission, due in the one case to some substance like adrenaline, in the other case to a substance like acetylcholine, so that we may distinguish between chemical function and anatomical origin. I suggest the words ‘adrenergic’ and ‘cholinergic’ respectively. 1935 Ann. Reg. 1934 ii. 53 There was increased recognition of the cholinergic mechanism as having the more general application in the functions of the nervous system and of the adrenergic mechanism as being a more specialised and a more recent development. 1955 Sci. News Let. 19 Mar. 179/2 Adrenergic chemicals inhibit, or stop, transmission of nerve impulses across the nerve junctions called synapses. Cholinergic chemicals excite, or give the go signal, to such impulses. |
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Add: Hence adreˈnergically adv., by means of adrenergic nerves.
| 1968 Jrnl. Pharmacol. & Exper. Therap. CLXIV. 322/1 Adrenergically induced arrhythmias. 1976 Nature 18 Mar. 210/3 The responses of the various adrenergically innervated tissues to drugs. |