A question asked by anonymous: Dopamine: please explain endogenous and exogenous and some diseases and treatments?
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that I really don’t understand as much as other NTs because of its varied implications and medication forms. For example, I have a hard time understanding the reason for its varied implications in many different diseases/conditions, such as the use of L-Dopa for Parkinson’s all the way to use of Da in the IV form for shock. And the implication of Da in cocaine addiction.

I’d appreciate any explanation. The more detailed and technical, the better. Thank you. I’ve never studied biochemistry or any subject like this, just pharmacology and pathophysiology.
One time I was trying to convince a person that cocaine use was harmful and I knew it had something to do with Da receptors, but I wasn’t sure so I didn’t mention anything in physiological detail…
You are a nice doc! Thanks. Even if no one else would bother with this question, your reply is complete and sufficient. Thanks!!!

The top answer:

Answer by nicedoc
Dopamine has a wide variety of functions physiologically. It’s a neurotransmitter heavily involved in control of motor function (in the extrapyramidal system). Diseases that deal with dopamine deficient states like Parkinson’s disease lead to slowness of movement and resting tremor. This can also occur as a side effect of long term of antipsychotics which block dopamine receptors and hence such patients can look like they have Parkinson’s (in fact we call this drug-induced parkinsonism or DIP).

Dopamine also figures prominently in behavior particularly in risk-reward pathway (like the rush one gets when winning a big hand while gambling for example), obsessive-compulsiveness and manic states. Hence drugs of abuse like cocaine and amphetamines have their pleasurable effect by modulating dopaminergic systems (cocaine for example blocks the reuptake of dopamine among other monoamines, thus making dopamine and thus its effects last longer in the nervous system). Likewise, treatments for Parkinson’s disease, particularly dopamine agonists can have compulsive behaviors such as excessive gambling/shopping and obessive-compulsive behavoirs as side effects.

Dopamine also has effects on blood pressure; interestingly at low doses it can lower blood pressure but at higher doses it can increase blood pressure (and is used medically for this reason as a vasopressor). However, as dopamine is broken down very quickly in the peripheral system, it’s unlikely it actually plays a real role in blood pressure control under normal conditions.

When people talk about endogenous vs exogenous dopamine, it just refers to whether the dopamine comes from existing physiologic stores (endogenous) or from an outside source, like a medication (exogenous). Thus you could say cocaine works by enhancing the effects of endogenous dopamine while Sinemet, a Parkinson’s disease drug , works by supplying exogenous dopamine.

Hope this helps somewhat.

What do you think? Leave you answer below!

Technorati Tags: Diseases, Dopamine, endogenous, exogenous, explain, Please, some, treatments

A question from Catriin: What diseases can be cured by stem cells and how would the cells cure those specific diseases?
I need to know which diseases can be cured by Stem Cell treatment. I know that Parkinson’s disease can be cured by this form of treatment but I need two other examples. I also need to know exactly how the cells will treat those specific diseases such as how the stem cells would target the motor cortex, causing a more sufficient amount of dopamine to be formed when treating Parkinson’s disease.
Thanks,

Cat.

My chosen answer:

Answer by Mags
There are many hurdles before stem cell implantation can be a potential cure or treatment for Parkinson’s disease. At this point skin cells have been used but the long term results are not in yet.

Other conditions with a cure potential include diabetes type 1 (juvenile diabetes), ALS, Huntington’s disease, Becker Muscular dystrophy (BMD), Down Syndrome, adenpsone deaminase deficiency (ADA-SCID), Gaucher disease type III, Schechman-Bodian-Diamons syndromw (SBDS)

There is stem cell treatment for Crohn’s disease.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/139774.php

Additional reading (I can’t do all of your homework)

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080807130834.htm

Proprietaty stem cells can prevent vision loss – retina protection:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/127718.php

You can also read this one about PD:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/141418.php

The 2nd part of your question can be searched in a normal fashion. If I find time, I’ll check it too.

Whether you agree or disagree, why not leave your own thoughts below.

Technorati Tags: cells, cure, cured, Diseases, specific, stem, those, would

Any personal experiences are welcome or general knowledge is fine too.

Thanks a lot!

Chosen answer:

Answer by Mags
Thanks for letting us skip the “throw the baby out with the bath water” approach to eSCR (the non-induced pluripotent cells) because not a single “child” would be saved by not doing embryonic stem cell research.

Please keep in mind that the “answer” is only speculation – it has not been established – it is based upon hope as well. Cures may be found through other methods but may be aided by the eSCR research.

I have not been able to find a list – and I’ve been looking for a few months but here is what I have found:

Alzheimer’s disease
Parkinson’s disease
Neuro-motor disorders and diseases
Cardiac disease
Cancers
Diabetes
Spinal Cord injuries
Dental issues
Eye diseases and disorders
Burn victims
Myasthenia Gravis
Mental illness – certain kinds
Multiple Sclerosis
Muscular Dystrophies
Osteoporosis
Scleroderma – an autoimmune rheumatic disease
Skin disorders
Sjogren’s syndrome – an autoimmune blood disorder

In most categories there are several other conditions – the actual list would be much longer

resources:

http://www.lifeissues.org/cloningstemcell/escrletter.html

a read this:

http://www.stemcellgo.com/

Provide your own answer to this question below!

Technorati Tags: besides, cell, cure, disease, Diseases, Embryonic, hoping, Parkinsons, researchers, stem, types

Question by Sayandeep: Diseases caused by muay thai martial art?
this question is for my friend who is practicing muay thai.somebody tell him muay thai causes (1) arthritis.(2)they also often use head protector.can it cause Parkinson’s disease??

The No 1 answer:

Answer by Flizbap
Wow, this question is a little ridiculous.

No it does not cause arthritis.

And taking thousands of hits to the head may cause some form of parkinson’s disease later in life, but that is a small chance.

Whether you agree or disagree, why not leave your own thoughts below.

Technorati Tags: caused, Diseases, martial, muay, thai

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Technorati Tags: against, allnatural, alzheimers, Brain, chronic, Depression, Diseases, fatigue, other, Parkinsons, powerful, program, protect, syndrome, wash, your

Technorati Tags: Diseases, Michael J Fox, Parkinson's Disease

Technorati Tags: against, allnatural, alzheimers, Brain, chronic, Depression, Diseases, fatigue, other, Parkinsons, powerful, program, protect, syndrome, wash, your

Technorati Tags: Aids, Diseases, Pathology

Technorati Tags: Alzhiemers, Diseases, Parkinson's Disease