Dopamine
Main Entry: do·pa·mine
Pronunciation: d -p - m n
Function: noun
: a monoamine C8H11NO2 that is a decarboxylated form of dopa and occurs especially as a neurotransmitter in the brain and as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of epinephrine.
Dopamine is a chemical naturally produced in the body. In the brain, dopamine functions as a neurotransmitter , activating dopamine receptors . Dopamine is also a neuro-hormone released by the hypothalamus. Its main function as a hormone is to inhibit the release of prolactin from the anterior lobe of the pituitary.
Dopamine can be supplied as a drug which acts on the sympathetic nervous system , producing effects such as increased heart rate and blood pressure . However, since dopamine cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, dopamine given as a drug does not directly affect the central nervous system . To increase the amount of dopamine in the brain of patients with diseases such as Parkinson's disease , a synthetic precursor to dopamine such as L-DOPA can be given, since this will cross the blood-brain barrier.
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