What is Dopamine?

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter. It is a chemical messenger that helps in the transmission of signals in the brain and other vital areas. Dopamine is found in humans as well as animals, including both vertebrates and invertebrates.

Dopamine history



Dopamine production


Neurotransmitters with discrete localization within the brain. A) The chemical structure of the monoamine neurotransmitter dopamine and a schematic drawing of the localization of dopamine-containing neurons in the human and rat brain and the sites where dopamine-containing axons are found. B) The chemical structure of the monoamine neurotransmitter serotonin and similar brain map showing locations of serotonin-containing cells and their axons.

Dopamine receptors

Dopamine acts on receptors that are specific for it. Five subtypes of mammalian dopamine receptors are grouped into two classes.

  • D1-like receptor class – This comprises of D1 and D5 receptor subtypes
  • D2-like receptor class – This comprises of D2, D3, and D4 receptor subtypes

These receptors have similar signalling properties. They however have different signal transduction pathways that determine their subtypes and classes.

All of the dopamine receptors are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), who’s signalling is primarily mediated by interaction with and activation of GTP-binding proteins (G proteins). Members of this superfamily are also called 7-transmembrane receptors because they traverse the cell membrane seven times. They are also called serpentine receptors because of the snake like manner in which they wind back and forth across the membrane.

Actions of dopamine

Dopamine is also used as medication. It acts on the sympathetic nervous system. Application of dopamine leads to increased heart rate and blood pressure.

Dopamine cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, so dopamine given as a drug does not directly affect the central nervous system.

Dopamine is needed in some brain diseases as well. This includes diseases such as Parkinson's disease and dopa-responsive dystonia. For these patients levodopa is used. This is a precursor of dopamine. It can cross the blood-brain barrier.

Further Reading

Last Updated: Apr 9, 2019

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Written by

Dr. Ananya Mandal




  • APA

    Mandal, Ananya. (2019, April 09). What is Dopamine?. News-Medical. Retrieved on April 22, 2021 from https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Dopamine.aspx.

  • MLA

    Mandal, Ananya. "What is Dopamine?". News-Medical. 22 April 2021. <https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Dopamine.aspx>.

  • Chicago

    Mandal, Ananya. "What is Dopamine?". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Dopamine.aspx. (accessed April 22, 2021).

  • Harvard

    Mandal, Ananya. 2019. What is Dopamine?. News-Medical, viewed 22 April 2021, https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Dopamine.aspx.


  1. naz Edyra naz Edyra Malaysia says:

    Dopamine is an hormone or not?

    • James Nunn James Nunn Australia says:

      To answer your question yes, dopamine is a hormone and it is released from the hypothalamus. As well as being a hormone it also acts as a neurotransmitter at the synapse transferring information between neurons. Dopamine is recognised more as a hormone (The happy hormone) because there are many other neurotransmitters that are in a synapse and also because of its main role of being a key part of happy emotions.

You might also like... ×
A small sensor can be used for rapid detection of RNA and DNA