ABSTRACT
The types and functions of the amine, the amino acid, the peptide and other neurotransmitters and their receptors are described. The concept of ligands, allosteric effects, excitatory and inhibitory actions with regards to receptors are explained. The cellular mechanism related to ionotropic and metabotropic excitatory and inhibitory receptors is described. A review of the main neurotransmitters (dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin, glutamate, GABA, acetylcholine and others) is presented, with the main brain pathways assigned to each neurotransmitter shown in a pathway diagram format. The functions of the endogenous opioids (encephalins, endomorphins and dynorphins) and their receptors (mu, kappa and delta) are explained. The roles of neuromodulators such as adenosine are described.
