Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters are endogenous chemical messengers that transmit signals across a chemical synapse, such as a neuromuscular junction, from one neuron to another "target" neuron, muscle cell, or gland cell (StatPearls, 2023). This term represents a broad category of molecules rather than a single therapeutic target, including amino acids like glutamate and GABA, monoamines like dopamine and serotonin, and various neuropeptides (NIH, 2022). Neurotransmitters are released from synaptic vesicles into the synaptic cleft, where they bind to specific receptors—either ionotropic (ligand-gated ion channels) or metabotropic (G protein-coupled receptors)—to elicit a biological response (Wikipedia, 2023). Dysregulation of neurotransmitter systems is central to the pathophysiology of numerous neurological and psychiatric conditions, including Parkinson's disease, depression, and schizophrenia (PubMed, PMCID: PMC6826820). Pharmacological intervention typically focuses on modulating these systems by altering neurotransmitter synthesis, release, reuptake, or receptor binding (NINDS, 2023). Because 'Neurotransmitters' is a collective noun for hundreds of different substances, it is considered a non-specific or 'incorrect' entry for a single molecular target profile.

Other names

Chemical messengersSynaptic transmittersNeuromodulatorsEndogenous ligands

Drugs targeting neurotransmitter systems generally act via receptor agonism or antagonism, inhibition of reuptake transporters, or inhibition of metabolic enzymes (e.g., MAOIs, AChEIs).