A review on agmatine as a novel neurotransmitter/neuromodulator

Year 2013, Volume: 3 Issue: 5, 0 - 0, 30.01.2014

Salih Gümrü Ceren Şahin Feyza Arıcıoğlu

Abstract

Agmatine, an endogenous amine, which is formed by decarboxylation of L-arginine, a semi essential amino acid, by arginine decarboxylase (ADC) and degraded by agmatinase can be defined as a putative neurotransmitter/neuromodulator. Agmatine is widely distributed in the body except from brain. Agmatine binds to alpha-adrenergic and imidazoline receptors, blocks nicotinic cholinergic, serotoninergic 5-HT3 and glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and inhibits nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Agmatine, an endogenous substance, modulating several functions in nervous system, is shown to have a wide range of pharmacological effects such as antinociceptive, antiinflammatory, preventing abstinence syndromes of morphine dependence, anxiolytic/antidepressant, neuroprotective, anticonvulsant and recently cognitive enhancing effects. Thus, agmatine can be a new candidate of novel therapeutic targets by further revealing the underlying molecular mechanisms in related physiological and pathological conditions.

Key words: Agmatine, imidazoline receptors, alpha-adrenergic receptors, NMDA, NO

Keywords

Agmatine, imidazoline receptors, alpha-adrenergic receptors, NMDA, NO

Yeni bir nörotransmitter/nöromodülatör olarak agmatine genel bir bakış

Abstract

Yarı esansiyel bir aminoasit olan L-arjininin arjinin dekarboksilaz (ADC) aracılığıyla dekarboksillenmesiyle oluşan ve agmatinazla yıkıma uğrayan endojen bir amin olan agmatin yeni bir nörotransmitter/nöromodulatör olarak tanımlanabilir. Agmatin beyin dışında vücutta yaygın dağılım gösterir. Agmatin alfa-adrenerjik ve imidazolin reseptörlerine bağlanır, nikotinik kolinerjik, serotonerjik 5-HT3 ve glutamaterjik N-metil-D-aspartat (NMDA) reseptörlerini bloke eder ve nitrik oksit sentazı (NOS) bloke eder. Endojen bir madde olan ve sinir sisteminde birçok fonksiyonu modüle ettiği bilinen agmatin çok geniş bir farmakolojik etki spektrumuna sahiptir. Bu etkiler arasında; antinosiseptif, antiinflamatuvar, morfin yoksunluğu semptomlarını baskılayıcı, antidepresan, nöroprotektif, antikonvülsan ve son olarak bilişsel fonksiyonları artırıcı etkisi bulunmaktadır. Agmatin, ilgili fizyolojik ve patolojik olaylardaki etkisinin altında yatan moleküler mekanizmaların daha iyi aydınlatılması ile yeni tedavi hedefleri için bir aday olabilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler : Agmatin, imidazolin reseptörleri, alfa-adrenerjik reseptörler, NMDA, NO

Keywords

Agmatin, imidazolin reseptörleri, alfa-adrenerjik reseptörler, NMDA, NO

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