Dopamine is a monoamine (C8H11NO2) that is classified as a catecholamine. It serves as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. It plays a role in behavior, our mental status and in mental disorders such as attention deficit, schizophrenia and mood disorders. In the peripheral vascular system, it serves to decrease blood pressure among other several other functions.
It is the immediate precursor to norepinephrine biochemically. It is derived from tyrosine that is metabolized to levodopa (LDOPA) and then to dopamine.
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