Neurotransmitter
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Neurotransmitters are endogenous chemical messengers that transmit signals between neurons, or from neurons to other cells.[1] Neurotransmitters may transmit signals across neuromuscular junctions, between muscle cells, gland cells, and immune cells.
Over 100 substances that act as neurotransmitters to have been identified. The most common are:
- Amino acids:
- Excitatory: glutamate (glutamic acid), aspartate (aspartic acid)
- Inhibitory: gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine
- Monoamines:
- Catecholamines
- Dopaminergic - dopamine (DA)
- Adrenergic - norepinephrine (noradrenaline; NE, NA), epinephrine (adrenaline)
- Indoleamine: serotonin (SER, 5-HT)
- Other: histamine
- Cholinergic neurotransmitter: Acetylcholine (ACh)
- Trace amines: phenethylamine, N-methylphenethylamine, tyramine, 3-iodothyronamine, octopamine, tryptamine, etc.
- Unusual neurotransmitters:
- Gasotransmitters - nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S)
- Endogenous cannabis: Endocannabinoids, Zinc
- D-serine
- Peptides:
- somatostatin, substance P, cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript, opioid peptides
- Putative neurotransmitters:
- prostaglandins
- adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine
- Others: anandamide, etc.: anandamide, etc.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Wilkinson, Michael; Brown, Richard E., eds. (2015). "Neurotransmitters". An Introduction to Neuroendocrinology. Cambridge University Press. pp. 79–114. ISBN 978-0-521-80647-3.
