Adrenal-Medullary Activity and Cardiovascular Control in the Fetal Sheep

In adult life the function of the adrenal medulla in eliciting acute cardiovascular responses to stress is probably relatively minor [1, 2], that role being fulfilled by the peripheral sympathetic system. The gland is likely to have longer-term, modulating influences, at least through the secretion of adrenaline [3], and possibly through the production of enkephalin and other peptides [4–6]. Moreover, medullary catecholamines appear to be important in the adult for glucose homeostasis [7].