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Abstract:
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The recent developments in neurobiology have rendered new prominence
and potential to study about the structure and function of brain and related disorders.
Human behaviour is the net result of neural control of the communication between
brain cells. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are used to relay, amplify and
modulate electrical signals between neurons and/or another cell. It mediates rapid
intercellular communication through the nervous system by interacting with cell
surface receptors. These receptors often trigger second messenger signaling pathways
that regulate the activity of ion channels. The functional balance of different
neurotransmitters such as Acetylcholine (Ach), Dopamine (DA), Serotonin (5-HT),
Norepinephrine (NE), Epinephrine (EPI), Glutamate and Gamma amino butyric acid
(GABA) regulates the growth, division and other vital functions of a normal cell /
organism (Sudha, 1998). Any change in neurotransmitters' functional balance will
result in the failure of cell function and may lead to the occurrence of diseases.
Abnormalities in the production or functioning of neurotransmitters have been
implicated in a number of neurological disorders like Schizophrenia, Alzheimer's,
Epilepsy, Depression and Parkinson's disease. Changes in central and peripheral
neuronal signaling system is also noted in diabetes, cancer, cell proliferation,
alcoholism and aging. Elucidation of neurotransmitters receptor interaction pathways
and gene expression regulation by second messengers and transcriptional factors
in health and disease conditions can lead to new small molecules for development
of therapeutic agents to improve neurological disease conditions. Increased
awareness of the global effects of neurological disorders should help health care
planners and the neurological community set appropriate priorities in research,
prevention, and management of these diseases. |