Editing Monoamine neurotransmitter (section)

{{Short description|Monoamine that acts as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator}}
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[[File:Dopamine.svg|thumb|right|180px|[[Dopamine]]]]
[[File:Norepinephrine.svg|thumb|right|180px|[[Norepinephrine]]]]
[[File:Serotonin.svg|thumb|right|180px|[[Serotonin]]]]
'''Monoamine neurotransmitters''' are [[neurotransmitter]]s and [[neuromodulator]]s that contain one [[amino]] group connected to an [[aromaticity|aromatic ring]] by a two-carbon chain (such as -CH<sub>2</sub>-CH<sub>2</sub>-). Examples are [[dopamine]], [[norepinephrine]] and [[serotonin]].

All monoamines are derived from aromatic [[amino acid]]s like [[phenylalanine]], [[tyrosine]], and [[tryptophan]] by the action of [[aromatic amino acid decarboxylase]] [[enzyme]]s. They are deactivated in the body by the enzymes known as [[monoamine oxidase]]s which clip off the amine group.

Monoaminergic systems, i.e., the networks of neurons that use monoamine neurotransmitters, are involved in the regulation of processes such as emotion, arousal, and certain types of memory. It has also been found that monoamine neurotransmitters play an important role in the secretion and production of [[neurotrophin-3]] by astrocytes, a chemical which maintains neuron integrity and provides neurons with trophic support.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2009.10.003 |title=Regulatory role of monoamine neurotransmitters in astrocytic NT-3 synthesis |year=2010 |last1=Mele |first1=Tina |last2=Čarman-Kržan |first2=Marija |last3=Jurič |first3=Damijana Mojca |journal=International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience |volume=28 |pages=13–9 |pmid=19854260 |issue=1|s2cid=25734591 }}</ref>

Drugs used to increase or reduce the effect of monoamine neurotransmitters are used to treat patients with psychiatric and neurological disorders, including [[Major depressive disorder|depression]], [[Anxiety disorder|anxiety]], [[schizophrenia]] and [[Parkinson's disease]].<ref name="pubmed21777827">{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/S1474-4422(11)70141-7 |title=The monoamine neurotransmitter disorders: An expanding range of neurological syndromes |year=2011 |last1=Kurian |first1=Manju A |last2=Gissen |first2=Paul |last3=Smith |first3=Martin |last4=Heales |first4=Simon JR |last5=Clayton |first5=Peter T |journal=The Lancet Neurology |volume=10 |issue=8 |pages=721–33 |pmid=21777827|s2cid=32271477 }}</ref>