Monoamine neurotransmitter

Monoamine neurotransmitters are a **class** of small-molecule chemical messengers that contain one amino group connected to an aromatic ring by a two-carbon chain. The main members include **dopamine**, **norepinephrine** (noradrenaline), **epinephrine** (adrenaline), **serotonin** (5-hydroxytryptamine), and **histamine**. These molecules play essential roles in regulating mood, cognition, arousal, attention, sleep-wake cycles, motor control, reward processing, neuroinflammation modulation and circadian gene expression. They act via binding to diverse receptor families—primarily G protein-coupled receptors—with some exceptions like the 5‑HT₃ ion channel receptor. Dysfunction in monoaminergic signaling is implicated in numerous psychiatric and neurological diseases including major depressive disorder and Parkinson’s disease. Drugs affecting these systems typically target their receptors or transporters rather than "monoamine neurotransmitter" as an entity.

Other names

MonoaminesBiogenic aminesMA neurotransmitters