Biogenic Amines - Examples

Examples

Some prominent examples of biogenic amines include:

• Histamine - a substance derived from the amino acid histidine that acts as a neurotransmitter mediating arousal and attention, as well as a pro-inflammatory signal released from mast cells in response to allergic reactions or tissue damage. Histamine is also an important stimulant of HCl secretion by the stomach through histamine H₂ receptors.
• Serotonin - a central nervous system neurotransmitter derived from the amino acid tryptophan involved in regulating mood, sleep, appetite, and sexuality.
• The three catecholamine neurotransmitters:
  • Norepinephrine (noradrenaline) - a neurotransmitter involved in sleep and wakefulness, attention, and feeding behavior, as well as a stress hormone released by the adrenal glands that regulates the sympathetic nervous system.
  • Epinephrine (adrenaline) - an adrenal stress hormone, as well as a neurotransmitter present at lower levels in the brain.
  • Dopamine - a neurotransmitter involved in motivation, reward, addiction, behavioral reinforcement, and coordination of bodily movement.
• The trace amines:
  • 3-Iodothyronamine - a metabolite of the thyroid hormones, and has been hypothesized to be the primary endogenous ligand for the trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1).
  • Tryptamine - a monoamine alkaloid found in trace amounts in the brains of mammals, and believed to play a role as a neuromodulator or neurotransmitter.
  • Tyramine - a substance that is found in many common foods, and is associated with increased blood pressure and headaches.
  • As well as others such as dimethyltryptamine (DMT), phenethylamine, and octopamine and the meta-substituted positional isomers of octopamine and tyramine.