Chromaffin cells are the cells in the adrenal gland that secrete adrenalin and noradrenalin (a neurohumor similar to adrenalin). The secretion of these substances is part of the body's response to stress and other environmental conditions requiring body function adjustments. Although adrenalin and noradrenalin have similar actions adrenalin is more effective in raising blood sugar levels while noradrenalin is more effective in raising blood pressure. Until recently it was thought that all chromaffin cells were the same. There is now evidence that cells that secrete adrenalin are quite different from those that secrete noradrenalin. With the development of methods to isolate and culture them separately it will be possible to study the detailed individual differences from a biochemical perspective. These studies will provide a more sophisticated understanding of the physiological mechanisms by which organisms respond to a variety of environmental stresses.
