On Wed, 23 Jun 1999, Miguel Roig went:
> Is anyone aware of any source that contains a complete, or nearly complete,
> listing of neurotransmitters classified by class (say, hormones, vs.
> neuromodulators) and by their general effects (inhibitory or excitatory)?
I don't think that either of those classifications schemes would work
well. Any transmitter (even GABA or glutamate) can have inhibitory or
excitory effects depending what receptor subtype it binds to in a
given synapse. The designation "hormone" simply means that the stuff
is being released into the bloodstream--so there are plenty of
substances that double as hormones and neurotransmitters. As for
"neuromodulator" (personal-opinion alert), the term is used so vaguely
and variably that I think it's best avoided.
Below is something I used to hand out to my Physio Psych classes. It was
current in 1997, but could use a little updating.
--David Epstein
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Some neurotransmitters
1. acetylcholine (ACh)
2. *MONOAMINES:
2.1. *CATECHOLAMINES:
dopamine (DA)
norepinephrine (="noradrenaline") (NE)
epinephrine (="adrenaline")
2.2. *INDOLEAMINES:
serotonin (5-HT: 5-hydroxytryptamine); melatonin
2.3. *OTHER MONOAMINES:
histamine; phenethylamine (PEA); tyramine; octopamine
3. *AMINO ACIDS:
3.1 *INHIBITORY AMINO ACIDS (WHICH CAN PROBABLY BE EXCITATORY AT
SOME SYNAPSES):
GABA (gamma-amino-butyric acid) [associated with benzodiazepine
receptor]; glycine; taurine
3.2. *EXCITATORY AMINO ACIDS (WHICH CAN PROBABLY BE INHIBITORY
AT SOME SYNAPSES):
glutamate [associated with NMDA receptor]; aspartate
4. *PEPTIDES:
4.1. *ENDOGENOUS OPIATES (LOOSELY, "ENDORPHINS"):
endorphins; enkephalins; dynorphins; nociceptin (also called orphanin
FQ)
4.2. *"GUT" PEPTIDES (FIRST DISCOVERED IN DIGESTIVE TRACT):
neuropeptide Y; substance P; cholecystokinin (CCK); angiotensin;
vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP); neurotensin; bombesin; neurokinin A
and B
4.3. *HYPOTHALAMIC PEPTIDES (RELEASED FROM THE HYPOTHALAMUS AS HORMONES, BUT
ALSO UED AS TRANSMITTERS WITHIN THE BRAIN):
corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF); bradykinin; thyrotropin-releasing
hormone (TRH); somatotropin-releasing hormone; somatostatin
4.4. *PITUITARY PEPTIDES (RELEASED FROM THE PITUITARY GLAND AS HORMONES, BUT
ALSO USED AS TRANSMITTERS WITHIN THE BRAIN):
*ANTERIOR-PITUITARY PEPTIDES:
corticotropin (ACTH); somatotropin (growth hormone); thyroid-
stimulating hormone (TSH; thyrotropin); melanin-concentrating
hormone (MCH; melanotropin)
*POSTERIOR-PITUITARY PEPTIDES:
vasopressin (="antidiuretic hormone"); oxytocin
5. OTHERS:
A *PURINE NEUROTRANSMITTER:
adenosine
*LIPID NEUROTRANSMITTERS:
anandamides (endogenous forms of THC)
*GASEOUS NEUROTRANSMITTERS:
nitric oxide (NO); carbon monoxide (CO)
*NEUROSTEROIDS:
DHEA; allopregnanolone [these seem to act at GABA-A receptors]
*categories of neurotransmitters.
