What are molar concentrations of dopamine in the brain?

[1, and also see 2,3] The local dopamine concentration around the tonically firing neurons in the striatum has been found to be in the range of 10-20 nM[4-5]. On the other hand, phasic release is caused by burst spike firing-- usually in response to a sensory or pharmacological stimulus -- and can increase local DA levels up to the range of 100s of microMoles to the millimolar range. read more

The net content of dopamine in a given brain area is of little importance. The parameter to be investigated is the TURNOVER of dopamine, which is evaluated by the rate of degradation of DA, therefore, the concentration of HVA and DOPAC should be taken into account in order to evaluate the use of dopamine. read more

Dopamine (DA, a contraction of 3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine) is an organic chemical of the catecholamine and phenethylamine families that plays several important roles in the brain and body. read more