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Dopaminergic
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Look up <i>dopaminergic</i> in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. <p>Dopaminergic means "related to <a href="/facts/Dopamine/5gNy8Xkd">dopamine</a>" (literally, "working on dopamine"), a common <a href="/facts/Neurotransmitter/LlpYFSU3">neurotransmitter</a>. Dopaminergic substances or actions increase dopamine-related activity in the brain. </p><p><a href="/facts/Dopaminergic_pathways/EFooas5U">Dopaminergic brain pathways</a> facilitate dopamine-related activity. For example, certain <a href="/facts/Protein/Jxmagu3E">proteins</a> such as the <a href="/facts/Dopamine_transporter/V9I2Uy1p">dopamine transporter</a> (DAT), <a href="/facts/Vesicular_monoamine_transporter_2/SnQpq1zy">vesicular monoamine transporter 2</a> (VMAT2), and <a href="/facts/Dopamine_receptor/fgsjJwkL">dopamine receptors</a> can be classified as dopaminergic, and <a href="/facts/Neuron/G7CyTVdH">neurons</a> that <a href="/facts/Biosynthesis/aFk7Tk7f">synthesize</a> or contain dopamine and <a href="/facts/Synapse/vdMRJCUn">synapses</a> with dopamine receptors in them may also be labeled as <i>dopaminergic</i>. <a href="/facts/Enzyme/DSI1Fh7y">Enzymes</a> that regulate the <a href="/facts/Biosynthesis/aFk7Tk7f">biosynthesis</a> or <a href="/facts/Metabolism/WxDrm8k5">metabolism</a> of dopamine such as <a href="/facts/Aromatic_L-amino_acid_decarboxylase/EUQpb2Rr">aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase</a> or <a href="/facts/DOPA_decarboxylase/EUQpb2Rr">DOPA decarboxylase</a>, <a href="/facts/Monoamine_oxidase/4bJuxUFy">monoamine oxidase</a> (MAO), and <a href="/facts/Catechol-O-methyl_transferase/GlKMEABG">catechol <i>O</i>-methyl transferase</a> (COMT) may be referred to as <i>dopaminergic</i> as well. </p><p>Also, any <a href="/facts/Endogenous/DFkSLkRI">endogenous</a> or <a href="/facts/Exogenous/yHXbIsAa">exogenous</a> <a href="/facts/Chemical_substance/EWcXU41d">chemical substance</a> that acts to affect dopamine receptors or dopamine release through indirect actions (for example, on neurons that synapse onto neurons that release dopamine or express dopamine receptors) can also be said to have <i>dopaminergic</i> effects, two prominent examples being <a href="/facts/Opioid/EGnE2x99">opioids</a>, which enhance dopamine release indirectly in the <a href="/facts/Reward_pathway/pkEaYUNf">reward pathways</a>, and some <a href="/facts/Substituted_amphetamine/KlmrodPb">substituted amphetamines</a>, which enhance dopamine release directly by binding to and inhibiting <a href="/facts/VMAT2/SnQpq1zy">VMAT2</a>. </p>