Neurotransmitters—Key Factors in Neurological and Neurodegenerative Disorders of the Central Nervous System

Abstract

Neurotransmitters are molecules that amplify, transmit, and convert signals in cells, having an essential role in information transmission throughout the nervous system. Hundreds of such chemicals have been discovered in the last century, continuing to be identified and studied concerning their action on brain health. These substances have been observed to influence numerous functions, including emotions, thoughts, memories, learning, and movements. Thus, disturbances in neurotransmitters’ homeostasis started being correlated with a plethora of neurological and neurodegenerative disorders. In this respect, the present paper aims to describe the most important neurotransmitters, broadly classified into canonical (e.g., amino acids, monoamines, acetylcholine, purines, soluble gases, neuropeptides) and noncanonical neurotransmitters (e.g., exosomes, steroids, D-aspartic acid), and explain their link with some of the most relevant neurological conditions. Moreover, a brief overview of the recently developed neurotransmitters’ detection methods is offered, followed by several considerations on the modulation of these substances towards restoring homeostasis.

Is Caperatic Acid the Only Compound Responsible for Activity of Lichen Platismatia glauca within the Nervous System?

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Zebrafish Larvae Position Tracker (Z-LaP Tracker): a high-throughput deep-learning behavioral approach for the identification of calcineurin pathway-modulating drugs using zebrafish larvae

“…Our analysis also identified non-selective dopamine agonists (Bromocriptine mesylate and Cabergoline) and serotonin modulators (Mirtazapine, Asenapine maleate, Sumatriptan succinate) which showed a CsA-like behavioral profile. Dopamine and serotonin receptors are GPCRs, similar to other targets described previously, known to act on various downstream signaling pathways resulting in differential transcription of certain genes 54 . A variety of other drug targets identified in the current study are known to act on various other receptors (estrogen, vesicular monoamine transporters, kainate, androgen, Pregnane X, VEGFR, EGFR, Calcium channels) and enzymes (cyclooxygenase, Raf Kinase, www.nature.com/scientificreports/ Src Kinase, Phosphodiesterases, and Histone demethylases).…”

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