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AxelBoldt t1_j27ol0f wrote

Reply to comment by BeneficialWarrant in In Parkinson disease, why doesn't the adrenal gland fill the dopamine deficiency? by Actual-Pumpkin1567

>increase the activity of remaining dopaminergic neurons of the SNpc

When you say "dopaminergic neurons", do you mean neurons that release dopamine or neurons that are affected by dopamine?

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BeneficialWarrant t1_j28y8gq wrote

Excellent question since, of course, the word can mean both. In this case, it is neurons which release dopamine. Note that they aren't just releasing it randomly into a tissue or into circulation, but releasing it directly at a targeted neuron, such as a GABA-releasing neuron of the dorsal striatum in a fine motor control circuit. A more comprehensive explanation of these pathways would probably require a smarter person to explain it.

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AxelBoldt t1_j2948dc wrote

Thank you for that. Do the dopamine-releasing neurons take up L-dopa, turn it into dopamine, and then release it at the synapse?

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