It07:Dopamine

Dopamine

General
Systematic name	1,2-Benzenediol, 4-(2-aminoethyl)-
Other names	Pyrocatechol, 4-(2-aminoethyl)- (8CI); .alpha.-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-.beta.-aminoethane; 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)ethylamine; 3,4-Dihydroxyphenethylamine; 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylethylamine; 3-Hydroxytyramine; 4-(2-Aminoethyl)-1,2-benzenediol; 4-(2-Aminoethyl)catechol; 4-(2-Aminoethyl)pyrocatechol; DA; Dopamin; Dopamine; Dophamine; Hydroxytyramin; NSC 173182; Oxytyramine
Molecular formula	C₈H₁₁NO₂
SMILES	C1=CC(=C(C=C1CCN)O)O
Molar mass	153.178
CAS number	51-61-6
Properties
Solubility in water	60.0 g/100 ml (25°C)
Melting point	128°C
Boiling point	227°C
Hazards
MSDS	[L-Dopamine]
R/S statement	R: 36/37/38 S: 26-36
Supplementary data page
Spectral data	NMR, MS
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references

Dopamine

--Hkc06 15:58, 5 December 2007 (UTC)

Dopamine, a phenethylamine, is also known as 1,2-Benzenediol, 4-(2-aminoethyl)-. It is a hormone and a neurotransmitter in the brain. It gives the feeling of "being doped" and is linked to drug abuse and addiction. Dopamine plays a big role in addiction as it affects the part of the brain that controls movement, emotional response and also the feelings of pleasure and pain.

Reaction

Below is one of the many reaction schemes for the formation of dopamine.

This reaction produces a 100% yield.

Uses

Dopamine is as a catecholamine. A catecholamine is the group of molecules that are neurotransmitters as well as hormones. It is also a monoamine. Adrenalin is a very similar molecule to dopamine. Dopamine is formed when a carboxyl group is removed from dopa, (3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine).

Dopamine can be used as a medicine, increasing heart rates and blood pressure. However, for some diseases, dopa has to be used instead of dopamine because dopamine is unable to cross the blood brain barrier, where as dopa can.

Parkinson’s disease can be treated using dopa. Parkinson’s disease is caused by low levels of dopamine in the brain. To treat this, dopa is taken by mouth and it crosses the blood brain barrier. When it goes into the brain, it converts into dopamine. This increases the levels of dopamine in the brain which then improves the nerve conduction. The use of dopa was approved in 1970 in the US for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

History

Dopamine was discovered in 1952 in Sweden by Arvid Carlsson and Nils-Ake Hillarp. The name of dopamine arose from the fact that dopamine was a monoamine and dopamine came from L-DOPA. In 2000, Arvid Carlsson was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering that dopamine is a neurotransmitter as well.

Functions

In the brain, dopamine controls movement, behaviour, sleep, moods and learning. It functions as a neurotransmitter i.e. a messenger and activates the five types of dopamine receptors; D1, D2, D3, D4, D5. It’s also a hormone, whose main function is to stall the release of prolactin from the pituitary.

Dopamine is released by the brain when the person experiences pleasure for example, food, drugs, sex etc. With drugs, the dopamine levels increase which can lead to addiction. Cocaine increases the lifetime of dopamine, increasing the levels of dopamine up to 150%. Amphetamines also increase the concentration of dopamine.

Dopamine is also linked to behaviour disorders. By blocking the dopamine receptors, desire decreases but an increase in drug taking is seen – this is because since the feeling of desire is blocked, there is a psychological effect seen where the person wants to “feel something.” Low dopamine levels are linked to ADHD – attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Very high levels of dopamine are linked to diseases such as psychosis and schizophrenia.

Dopamine

Reaction

Uses

History

Functions

References