Norepinephrine and Epinephrine Content of Normal and Diseased Human Hearts

Abstract

Because of the exquisitely oxygen-wasting and potentially hypoxia-producing effect of epinephrine on the myocardium, its relative (compared with norepinephrine) and absolute concentration in 85 human hearts was investigated. Significant increases above normal were found in cases of fresh myocardial infarction, in congestive heart failure, and in renal uremia. It is believed that the hypoxiating action of excess epinephrine in the heart muscle constitutes an important pathogenic factor in the origin of certain forms of functional and degenerative heart disease. Prolonged illnesses of various kinds seem to reduce the myocardial norepinephrine content.