title: Catecholamine systems of retina: a model for studying synaptic mechanisms.
abstract: The retina contains three catecholamine neurotransmitters: dopamine (DA); norepinephrine (NE); and epinephrine (EPI). DA and EPI appear to be associated with separate amacrine neurons that directly participate in the visual process. NE, in contrast, appears to be associated primarily with the sympathetic nerves that innervate the blood vessels of the retina. We present a synopsis of the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology of these retinal neurons. We also suggest that some diseases usually associated with catecholamines of brain may have their counterpart in retina.
mesh_terms: D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003624:Darkness; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000502:physiology*; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology; D008027:Light; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D009294:Narcotics / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000502:physiology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D009294:Narcotics; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D012701:Serotonin; D007980:Levodopa; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases; D008550:Melatonin; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine