Synthesis and Functions of Dopamine
Dopamine: Synthesis and Functions
Dopamine is also known as a neurotransmitter which transmits signals between nerve cells (neurons) in the brain and throughout the rest of the body. It's like a chemical messenger that allows different parts of our nervous system to communicate. It also acts as a hormone, produced by our adrenal glands (located on top of your kidneys) and released by the hypothalamus in our brain. It's synthesized in the body from the amino acid L-tyrosine, which is converted into L-DOPA, and then into dopamine. Dopamine itself is a precursor to norepinephrine and epinephrine. Dopamine creates a sense of pleasure and satisfaction, and more importantly, it reinforces the behavior, making us more likely to seek out and repeat it in the future. Dopamine is essential for smooth and coordinated voluntary movements. Low levels of dopamine in specific brain areas (like the substantia nigra) causes Parkinson's disease, leading to symptoms like tremors, stiffness, and slow movement. Dopamine significantly influences our mood, feelings of happiness, and emotional responses. Imbalances can be linked to mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder. It also affects blood pressure, kidney function, insulin production, gastrointestinal movement, and even immune system activity.
Synthesis of Dopamine
Dopamine was first synthesized in 1910 by George Barger and James Ewens at Wellcome Laboratories in London, England. Kathleen Montagu identified it in the human brain in 1957.
Dopamine is mainly synthesized in areas of the central and peripheral nervous systems, such as in the hypothalamus from the amino acid L-tyrosine. L-tyrosine is first converted into L-DOPA (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) and then converted into dopamine.
University Questions
How is dopamine synthesized in the nervous system?
Discuss the functions of dopamine in human body.
How can you synthesize dopamine from L-Tyrosine?
How does dopamine make someone feel happy?
How does dopamine affects our health?
