The dopamine receptors are a class of metabotropic G-protein-coupled receptors with the neurotransmitter dopamine as their endogenous ligand. Based on their structural and functional characteristics, neurotransmitter receptors can be classified into two broad categories; namely metabotropic and ionotropic receptors. ... In cell biology, G-protein-coupled receptors (also known as GPCRs, seven transmembrane receptors, heptahelical receptors, or 7TM receptors) are transmembrane receptors that transduce an extracellular signal (ligand binding) into an intracellular signal (G protein activation). ... Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are used to relay, amplify and modulate electrical signals between a neuron and another cell. ... Dopamine is a chemical naturally produced in the body. ... In an economic model, an endogenous change is one that comes from inside the model and is explained by the model itself. ... In chemistry, a ligand is an atom, ion or functional group that is bonded to one or more central atoms or ions, usually metals generally through coordinate covalent bond. ...

Dopamine receptor types

There are 5 major types of dopamine receptors. All are G-protein coupled metabotropic receptors, and can be excitatory or inhibitory to the post-synaptic neuron. The D1 and D5 receptors are members of the D1-like family of dopamine receptors whereas the D2, D3 and D4 receptors are members of the D2-like family. Activation of the D1-like family receptors is coupled to increases in cAMP and is typically excitatory, while D2-like activation reduces cAMP and is typically inhibitory. Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Clozapine (trade names Clozaril®; Leponex®; Fazaclo®), approved by the FDA in 1989, was the first of the atypical antipsychotics. ... The term camp—normally used as an adjective, even though earliest recorded uses employed it mainly as a verb—refers to the deliberate and sophisticated use of kitsch, mawkish or corny themes and styles in art, clothing or conversation. ...

In schizophrenics, D2 receptors have been found to exist in higher than normal levels, and antipsychotic drugs aim to block these. For other senses of this word, see schizophrenia (disambiguation). ... The term antipsychotic is applied to a group of drugs used to treat psychosis. ...

References

• Zimmerberg, B., "Dopamine receptors: A representative family of metabotropic receptors, Multimedia Neuroscience Education Project (2002)