dopamine
- Also called:
- hydroxytyramine
- Key People:
- Paul Greengard
- Arvid Carlsson
News •
dopamine, a nitrogen-containing organic compound that acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain, influencing various neural pathways, including those involved in reward, motivation, and movement.
Dopamine is a member of both the catecholamine and the phenethylamine families. It is formed as an intermediate compound from dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa) during metabolism of the amino acid tyrosine and is the precursor of the catecholamine neurotransmitters epinephrine and norepinephrine. Dopamine is produced mainly in the regions of the brain known as the substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area (VTA), and hypothalamus. Dopamine functions acts primarily by inhibiting the transmission of nerve impulses in the substantia nigra, basal ganglia, and corpus striatum.
A deficiency of dopamine associated with cellular death in the substantia nigra results in Parkinson disease. Dopamine-receptor agonists, which bind to dopamine receptors on dopamine-producing neurons in the neurotransmitter’s absence, can increase dopaminergic activity in the brain, helping to lessen Parkinson symptoms.
Abnormalities in dopamine transmission, including hyperactive dopamine transmission in certain parts of the brain, have been linked to psychotic syndromes such as schizophrenia. Dopaminergic structures within the brain, such as the striatum and nucleus accumbens, have also been implicated in reward-related behavior.