Dopaminergic

Dopaminergic

Dopaminergic means related to the neurotransmitter dopamine.[1] For example, certain proteins such as the dopamine transporter (DAT), vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), and dopamine receptors can be classified as dopaminergic, and neurons which synthesize or contain dopamine and synapses with dopamine receptors in them may also be labeled as dopaminergic. Enzymes which regulate the biosynthesis or metabolism of dopamine such as aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AAAD) or DOPA decarboxylase (DDC), monoamine oxidase (MAO), and catechol O-methyl transferase (COMT) may be referred to as dopaminergic as well. Lastly, any endogenous or exogenous chemical substance which acts to affect dopamine receptors or dopamine release through indirect actions (for example, on neurons that synapse onto neurons that release dopamine or express dopamine receptors) can also be said to have dopaminergic effects, two prominent examples being opioids which enhance dopamine release indirectly in the reward pathways, and amphetamines, which enhance dopamine release directly by binding to, and inhibiting VMAT2.

Supplements and drugs

A complete list of dopaminergic substances used as supplements and drugs includes:

  • Dopamine (DA; Intropan, Inovan, Revivan, Rivimine, Dopastat, Dynatra, etc) itself, which is used in the treatment of severe hypotension, circulatory shock, and cardiac arrest as a vasopressor or antihypotensive agent.
  • Dopamine activity enhancers such as BPAP and PPAP, which are currently only research chemicals, but are being investigated for clinical development in the treatment of a number of medical disorders.
  • Dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH) inhibitors like disulfiram (Antabuse), which is used in the treatment of drug addiction as an anticraving agent.
  • Phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) inhibitors like 3,4-dihydroxystyrene (DHS) which is currently only a research chemical with no suitable therapeutic indications, likely on account of the fact that such drugs would induce the potentially highly dangerous hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) and/or phenylketonuria (PKU).

See also

References


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  • dopaminergic — Relating to nerve cells or fibers that employ dopamine as their neurotransmitter. [dopamine + G. ergon, work] * * * do·pa·mi·ner·gic .dō pə .mē nər jik adj liberating, activated by, or involving dopamine or related substances <the mesolimbic… …   Medical dictionary

  • dopaminergic — ¦dōpəˌmē¦nərjə̇k, mə̇¦n adjective Etymology: dopamine (herein) + ergic (herein) : relating to, participating in, or activated by the neurotransmitter activity of dopamine or related substances a dopaminergic pathway in the nervous system… …   Useful english dictionary

  • dopaminergic — adjective a) Containing, involving, or transmitting dopamine. The nucleus accumbens is one of the most studied nuclei in the dopaminergic system. b) Of or related to dopamine …   Wiktionary

  • Dopaminergic cell groups — are collections of neurons in the central nervous system that have been demonstrated by histochemical fluorescence to contain the neurotransmitter dopamine.[1] Eleven discrete dopaminergic cell groups have been identified.[2][3][4] …   Wikipedia

  • Dopaminergic pathways — Mesolimbic dopaminergic and serotonergic pathways. Dopaminergic pathways are neural pathways in the brain which transmit the neurotransmitter dopamine from one region of the brain to another.[1] The neurons of the dopaminergic pathways hav …   Wikipedia

  • Dopaminergic nerve fibre — A dopaminergic nerve fibre is a nerve fibre for which the neurotransmitter is dopamine; that is to say, it is triggered into firing when incident nerves that form a synapse with it releases dopamine into the synaptic cleft. Dopaminergic nerve… …   Wikipedia

  • dopaminergic — adjective Date: 1966 liberating, activated by, or involving dopamine or related substances …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • dopaminergic — /doh peuh mi nerr jik/, adj. Biochem. activated by or sensitive to dopamine. [1970 75; DOPAMINE + ERGIC] * * * …   Universalium

  • dopaminergic — adj. activated or transferred by dopamine (type of neurotransmitter transports chemical signals between neurons) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • dopaminergic — [ˌdəʊpəmi: nə:dʒɪk] adjective Biochemistry releasing or involving dopamine as a neurotransmitter. Origin 1960s: from dopamine + Greek ergon work + ic …   English new terms dictionary

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