Neurotransmitter

Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are used to relay, amplify and modulate electrical signals between a neuron and another cell. According to the dogma of the 1960's, a chemical can be classified as a neurotransmitter if it respects the following conditions:

Common neurotransmitters

• Derived from amino acids:
• aspartate
• glutamate
• GABA
• glycine
• Monoamines (in the order of their synthesis):
• from phenylalanine and tyrosine:
• dopamine (da)
• norepinephrine (ne/noradrenaline)
• epinephrine (epi/adrenaline)
• from tryptophan:
• serotonin (5ht/5-hydroxytryptamine)
• from histidine:
• histamine (?)
• Polypeptides (neuropeptides):
• Bombesin/GRP:
• bombesin
• gastrin releasing peptide (GRP)
• Gastrins:
• gastrin
• cholecystokinin (CCK)
• Neurohypophyseals:
• vasopressin
• oxytocin
• neurophysin I
• neurophysin II
• Neuropeptide Y:
• neuropeptide Y (NY)
• pancreatic polypeptide (PP)
• peptide YY (PYY)
• Opioids:
• corticotropin (ACTH)
• Beta-lipotropin
• dynorphin
• endorphin
• enkephaline
• leumorphin
• Secretins:
• secretin
• motilin
• glucagon
• vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)
• growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF)
• Somatostatins:
• somatostatin
• Tachykinins:
• neurokinin A
• neurokinin B
• neuropeptide A
• neuropeptide gamma
• substance P
• Biogenic amines:
• acetylcholine (ACh)
• Other:
• nitric oxide (NO)
• carbon monoxide (CO)
• anandamide