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Is DOPA a neurotransmitter?
- Source :
- Trends in Pharmacological Sciences. 23:262-268
- Publication Year :
- 2002
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2002.
-
Abstract
- Historically, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) has been considered to be an inert amino acid that alleviates the symptoms of Parkinson's disease by its conversion to dopamine via the enzyme aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase. In contrast to this generally accepted idea, we propose that DOPA itself is a neurotransmitter and/or neuromodulator in addition to being a precursor of dopamine. Several criteria such as synthesis, metabolism, active transport, existence, physiological release, competitive antagonism and physiological or pharmacological responses must be satisfied before a compound is accepted as a neurotransmitter. Recent evidence suggests that DOPA fulfills these criteria in its involvement in baroreflex neurotransmission.
- Subjects :
- Neurons
Pharmacology
chemistry.chemical_classification
Neurotransmitter Agents
medicine.medical_specialty
Dopamine
Dopaminergic
Metabolism
Baroreflex
Neurotransmission
Toxicology
Dihydroxyphenylalanine
Amino acid
Nitric oxide
chemistry.chemical_compound
Endocrinology
chemistry
Internal medicine
Solitary Nucleus
medicine
Animals
Neurotransmitter
medicine.drug
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 01656147
- Volume :
- 23
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Trends in Pharmacological Sciences
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....262d22fdd56834f3f08d2d61692ed469