Dopamine

Dopamine is a catecholamine signaling molecule that acts as a neurotransmitter in the nervous system and as a hormone in some animals. It influences movement, motivation, learning, and several bodily functions.

Dopamine receptor: A cell-surface receptor that responds to dopamine and changes cellular activity. Dopamine signals through receptor families with distinct effects in different tissues.
Catecholamine: A class of molecules derived from tyrosine that includes dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. Dopamine belongs to this chemical family.
Parkinson's disease: A progressive neurological disorder involving motor symptoms and loss of dopamine-producing neurons. Dopamine loss in the nigrostriatal pathway contributes to its movement symptoms.
Serotonin: A monoamine neurotransmitter involved in mood, sleep, appetite, and other functions. It is often contrasted with dopamine, but their functions overlap and resist simple oppositions.
Dopamine transporter: A membrane protein that removes dopamine from the synaptic cleft by transporting it into cells. Reuptake by this transporter helps terminate dopamine signals.
Tyrosine: An amino acid used by cells to synthesize proteins and several signaling molecules. Tyrosine is the starting material for dopamine synthesis.
Levodopa: A dopamine precursor used to increase dopamine production in the brain. It can cross the blood–brain barrier and replenish dopamine in Parkinson's disease.
Norepinephrine: A catecholamine that acts as a neurotransmitter and hormone in alertness, stress, and cardiovascular regulation. It shares chemical ancestry with dopamine but has distinct signaling roles.
Dopamine synthesis: The biochemical pathway that produces dopamine from the amino acid tyrosine. Synthesis determines how much dopamine neurons can release.
Neurotransmitter: A chemical messenger released by neurons to affect other cells. Dopamine functions as a neurotransmitter in the nervous system.

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