Publication

Abstract : This chapter focuses on the chemical make-up of brain, the endogenous agents involved in CNS such as acetylcholine, catecholamines including dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine, serotonin, histamine, glutamate, GABA and glycine. Many are neurotransmitters and are involved in neurotransmission. The chapter describes the chemistry of these agents, the presence of these receptors in various locations as well as their functions in the brain. The chapter also explains the synthesis, storage and release of these agents. It also discusses the metabolism and reuptake of these agents. Targeting each of the above steps modulates the neurotransmission and produces various pharmacological effects. The chapter also discusses the exogenous agents such as anticholinesterases, indirectly acting agonists, indirectly acting alpha-agonists and centrally acting sympatholytics which are capable of modulating the chemical make-up in brain and are used in pharmacotherapy for their wide range of therapeutic benefits.