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catecholamine (kat″ә-kolīә-mēn)   any of a group of sympathomimetic amines whose molecule has an aromatic portion of catechol. Catecholamines play an important role in the body's physiological response to stress. Their release at sympathetic nerve endings increases the rate and force of muscular contraction of the heart (thereby increasing cardiac output), constricts peripheral blood vessels, resulting in elevated blood pressure, elevates blood glucose levels by hepatic and skeletal muscle glycogenolysis, and promotes an increase in blood lipids by increasing the breakdown of fats.




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