11-hydroxyyohimbine

Description

## 11-Hydroxyyohimbine: A Potent and Selective α2-Adrenergic Receptor Antagonist

11-hydroxyyohimbine (11-OHY) is a **potent and selective α2-adrenergic receptor antagonist**, meaning it blocks the action of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine at these receptors. This is crucial for research because α2-adrenergic receptors are involved in various physiological processes, making 11-OHY a valuable tool for studying:

**1. Neurotransmission and the Nervous System:**

* **Anxiety and Depression:** 11-OHY can modulate the release of norepinephrine and other neurotransmitters, which are implicated in anxiety and depression. This makes it a potential research tool for understanding and potentially treating these disorders.
* **Pain Perception:** 11-OHY can alter pain perception by affecting the release of pain-modulating neurotransmitters. It could be used to study the mechanisms of pain and potential new pain relief therapies.
* **Cognitive Function:** 11-OHY can influence cognitive function by altering the activity of the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in higher-level cognitive processes. This could be valuable for research into memory, attention, and decision-making.

**2. Cardiovascular System:**

* **Blood Pressure Regulation:** α2-adrenergic receptors play a role in regulating blood pressure, and 11-OHY can potentially influence blood pressure by blocking these receptors. This makes it a potential research tool for studying hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases.
* **Cardiac Function:** 11-OHY could be used to study the effects of α2-adrenergic receptor blockade on heart function and potential implications for heart disease.

**3. Other Systems:**

* **Metabolic Regulation:** 11-OHY might have implications for metabolic regulation by affecting the release of insulin and glucose. This could be relevant for research into diabetes and obesity.
* **Reproductive System:** 11-OHY could influence sexual function by affecting the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, which is involved in sexual arousal and orgasm. This could be relevant for research into sexual dysfunction.

**Importance for Research:**

11-OHY is a valuable research tool because of its:

* **High selectivity:** It primarily targets α2-adrenergic receptors, allowing researchers to specifically investigate the role of these receptors in different processes.
* **Potency:** It effectively blocks the activity of α2-adrenergic receptors, leading to observable effects in research models.
* **Availability:** It is readily available for research purposes, enabling researchers to conduct experiments and gain insights into the role of α2-adrenergic receptors.

Overall, 11-hydroxyyohimbine is a potent and selective α2-adrenergic receptor antagonist that is highly valuable for research in various fields, including neurology, cardiology, and endocrinology. Its unique properties allow researchers to investigate the role of α2-adrenergic receptors in numerous physiological processes and contribute to our understanding of complex diseases and potential treatment options.

11-hydroxyyohimbine: structure given in first source [Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), National Library of Medicine, extracted Dec-2023]