Autonomic

Nervous
System
Dopamine Synthesis
Dopamine Synthesis
Dopamine Synthesis
 Dopamine is synthesized from the amino acid tyrosine, which
is taken up into the brain via an active transport mechanism.
Tyrosine is produced in the liver from phenylalanine through
the action of phenylalanine hydroxylase. Tyrosine is then
transported to dopamine containing neurons where a series of
reactions convert it to dopamine [15,16]. Within
catecholaminergic neurons, tyrosine hydroxylase catalyzes
the addition of a hydroxyl group to the meta position of
tyrosine, yielding L-dopa. This rate-limiting step in
catecholamine synthesis is subject to inhibition by high levels
of catecholamines (endproduct inhibition).
Dopamine Synthesis
 Because tyrosine hydroxylase is normally saturated
with substrate, manipulation of tyrosine levels does not
readily impact the rate of catecholamine synthesis.
Once formed, L-dopa is rapidly converted to dopamine
by dopa decarboxylase, which is located in the
cytoplasm. It is now recognized that this enzyme acts
not only on L-dopa but also on all naturally occurring
aromatic L-amino acids, including tryptophan, and thus
it is more properly termed aromatic amino acid
decarboxylase
 Functions
Receptors Locations

Voluntary movements, regulate growth

Found in high concentration in mesolimbic, nigrostratal and
and development,regulations of
mesocorticalareas ,suchas substancianigra, olfactory bulb,nucleus
feeding, affect, attentions, reward,
D1 accumbens, cuadate, putamen,
sleep, impulse control, reproductive
striatum,Expressedinlowlevelincerebellum,hippocampus,
behaviors, working memory, learning,
thalamus, hypothalamus, kidney
control of rennin inkidney

Involved in working memory, reward-

Expressed in high levels inas substancianigra, olfactory bulb, motivation functions regulate blood
cuadate, putamen, ventral tagemental area(VTA),nucleus pressure, renal functions,
D2 accumbensFound in low level in hypothalamus, septum, kidney, gastrointestinal motility,vasodilatations,
cortex, heart, blood vessels, adrenal glands, gastrointestinal tract, regulate locomotion-presynatic
sympathetic ganglia receptorsinhibit locomotion and post
synaptic receptors activate locomotion

Involved in endocrine function

Expressed only in CNS and it is notfound outside the CNS. Found cognitions, emotions, regulations of
D3
inolfactory bulb, nucleus accumbens locomotor functions and modulates
endocrine functions
 Substancianigra, hippocampus, amygdala,
Regulations of renal
thalamus, hypothalamus, kidney, frontal
functions, gastrointestinal
cortex, heart, blood vessels, adrenal glands,
D4 motility, vasodilatations,
gastrointestinal tract, sympathetic ganglia,
blood pressure, modulations
globuspalidum,Lowest receptor found in CNS
of cognitive functions
than all dopamine receptors

Substancianigra, hypothalamus, hippocampus, Involved in pain process,

D5 dental gyrus, kidney, heart, blood vessels, adrenal affective functions, endocrine
glands, gastrointestinal tract, sympathetic ganglia functions of dopamine
Acetylcholine Synthesis
Adrenergics and Adrenergic Blockers
Cholinergics