Overview of Neurotransmitters (NTs)
"Family" |
Name |
Acronym |
Name of tract |
# of receptor subtypes |
Names of receptors |
Ionotropic or metabotropic? |
| Acetylcholine | Acetylcholine | Ach | Cholinergic | 2 major subtypes (each with multiple sub- types) |
muscarinic nicotinic |
Mus = metabotropic (i.e. uses 2nd messengers); Nic = ionotropic |
| Monoamine: Catecholamine |
Norepinephrine | NE | Adrenergic | 2 major; ea. 2 subtypes |
Alpha 1&2 Beta 1&2 |
All metabotropic |
| Monamine: Catecholamine |
Dopamine | DA | Dopaminergic | 5 subtypes; 2 superfamilies |
DA 1,5 DA 2,3,4 |
All metabotropic |
| Monoamine: Indoleamine |
Serotonin | 5-Ht | Serotonergic | 7 subtypes | 5-Ht 1-7 | All metabotropic Except 5-Ht3 = ionotropic |
| Amino Acid (Inhibitory) |
gamma aminobutyric acid |
GABA | GABAergic | 2 major subtypes |
GABA A & B | GABA A = ionotropic, although a receptor complex (BZ, barbiturate, or alcohol sites); GABA B = metabotropic |
| Amino Acid (Excitatory) |
Glutamate (or glutamic acid) |
E.A.A. | Glutaminergic | 5 subtypes | NMDA, kainic acid, and 3 others |
All ionotropic except 5th = metabotropic |
| Neuropeptide | Endogenous Opiates |
b -Endorphin | Opioid | 3 major subtypes |
Mu, Delta, Kappa |
May be ionotropic or metabotropic |
| Other Candidates | Origins (?) | Examples |
| Other NTs | Ubiquitous | Glycine, histamine & nitric acid gas |
| Other Neuropeptides | Pituitary | Vasopressin & Oxytocin |
| Other Neuropeptides | Visceral | Neuropeptide Y, Substance P, CCK
& somatostatin |