EPI(Epinephrine/Adrenaline) ELISA Kit (E-EL-0045)

This ELISA kit uses the Competitive-ELISA principle. The micro ELISA plate provided in this kit has been pre-coated with Universal EPI. During the reaction, Universal EPI in the sample or standard competes with a fixed amount of Universal EPI on the solid phase supporter for sites on the Biotinylated Detection Ab specific to Universal EPI. Excess conjugate and unbound sample or standard are washed away, and Avidin-Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP) conjugate are added to each micro plate well and incubated. Then a TMB substrate solution is added to each well. The enzyme-substrate reaction is terminated by the addition of stop solution and the color turns from blue to yellow. The optical density (OD) is measured spectrophotometrically at a wavelength of 450 nm ± 2 nm. The concentration of Universal EPI in tested samples can be calculated by comparing the OD of the samples to the standard curve.

Epinephrine, also called adrenaline, is a catecholamine of formula C9H13NO3 secreted by the chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla and also acting as a neurotransmitter at some central and peripheral synapses. Within the medulla it is synthesized from norepinephrine by phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase, stored in chromaffin granules and released into the blood upon sympathetic stimulation. It is the principal hormonal mediator of the fight-or-flight response and is secreted in large amounts during fear, exercise, hypoglycemia or danger. Acting through alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors it increases heart rate and cardiac output, raises blood pressure, dilates bronchi and mobilizes energy substrates by stimulating glycogenolysis and lipolysis while redistributing regional blood flow toward skeletal muscle, dilating the pupils and reducing gastrointestinal motility. Measurement of epinephrine in plasma or urine is important for assessing sympathoadrenal activity, and markedly elevated values are associated with pheochromocytoma and other catecholamine-secreting tumors that cause hypertension. Because the catecholamine is rapidly metabolized and fluctuates with posture and stress, standardized collection and prompt stabilization of samples are essential for reliable determination.