Figure 1
From: Mercury in the human adrenal medulla could contribute to increased plasma noradrenaline in aging
Pathways for mercury-induced increased noradrenaline and decreased adrenaline output. Mercury, by binding to and inhibiting the cofactor S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) in the adrenal medulla, reduces the ability of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) to deactivate noradrenaline, resulting in an increased output of noradrenaline. Mercury binding to SAM also reduces the ability of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) to convert noradrenaline into adrenaline, resulting in a decreased output of adrenaline. Overactivity of central nervous system sympathetic neurons (of unknown cause) may contribute to increased sympathetic activity via elevated noradrenaline output from postganglionic neurons.
