Introductory Chapter: “Feel Good” Chemical Dopamine - Role in Health and Disease

Dopamine (DA) (3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine) is a member of the catecholamine family (a monoamine, an organic compound that has a catechol and a side-chain amine) of neurotransmitters in brain and is an antecedent to epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline). DA is produced in the body (primarily by nervous tissue and adrenal glands) initially by the hydration of the amino acid tyrosine to DOPA by tyrosine hydroxylase and further by the decarboxylation of DOPA by aromatic-l-amino-acid decarboxylase. It is a key transmitter in the extrapyramidal system of the brain and crucial in synchronizing movement. A group of receptors (dopamine receptors) facilitates its function.