title: Some aspects of basic psychopharmacology: the trace amines.
abstract: 1. Some recent research on the behavioural effects of phenylethylamine and some recent data implicating the trace amines in schizophrenia, agoraphobia and aggression are briefly outlined. 2. Phenylethylamine produces in mice a distinctive hyperactivity syndrome consisting of two phases; it appears to act via dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine on different components of these stereotypies. 3. Urinary unconjugated tryptamine, and meta- and para-tyramine appear to be excreted in reduced amounts in schizophrenia and bipolar depression. 4. The blood levels of the trace acids phenylacetic and meta- and para-hydroxyphenylacetic are reduced in schizophrenia. 5. Blood levels of conjugated phenylacetic and unconjugated para-hydroxyphenylacetic acid are reduced in violent as opposed to non-violent offenders. 6. The neuromodulatory role of the trace amines and their possible involvement in components of behaviour and certain mental disorders are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000378:metabolism*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D010627:Phenethylamines / Q000378:metabolism; D010648:Phenylacetates / Q000378:metabolism; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D014439:Tyramine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001679:Biogenic Amines; D010627:Phenethylamines; D010648:Phenylacetates; D012701:Serotonin; C008070:4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid; C008069:3-hydroxybenzeneacetic acid; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D014439:Tyramine