Health Glossary - For Everyone

Dopamine
  print page print this page   Email email this page

 

 

 

 

What is dopamine?

Dopamine is a monoamine neurotransmitter which is produced in the brain. It is mainly synthesised in parts of the central and peripheral nervous systems, such as the hypothalamus, the arcuate nucleus and the caudad.

Dopamine plays a role in enabling or regulating healthy thought processes, movement, balance, emotional response, and the ability to feel pleasure and pain.

Advertisement



^ top



Important dopamine facts



^ top

Advertisement

 

Why dopamine is important

Dopamine plays a major role in the central nervous, hormonal, renal and cardiovascular systems.  Studies show dopamine control processes as diverse as movement to addiction. 

In addition to being a neurotransmitter, dopamine is also a neurohormone, which functions to inhibit release of the hormone prolactin (which regulates milk production) from the anterior pituitary.

 

^ top

 

Last reviewed: 14 January 2007 || Last updated: 21 August 2007

 

Related Articles

^ top

references

 

More information

To learn more, go to the following web sites


 

NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.

 

^ top