What is Dopamine?

2D structure of neurotransmitter dopamine.

A neurotransmitter (chemical released nerve endings) found in the brain and around some blood vessels. It helps to control body movements: a deficiency of dopamine in the basal ganglia (groups of nerve cells deep in the brain) causes Parkinson’s disease.

Synthetic dopamine is injected as an emergency treatment for shock caused by a myocardial infarction (heart attack) or septicemia (blood infection) and as a treatment for severe heart failure.