Dopaminergic Pathways

Dopaminergic Pathways

1. Mesolimbic Pathway

   • In charge of Motivation, emotions, reward and positive symptoms
   • Moves DA from VTA to NA
     • Ventral Tegmental Area
     • Nucleus Accumbens
       • mediating motivational and emotional processes
     • Image
   • Lots of dopamine in Schizophrenia patients

2. Mesocortical Pathway

   • In charge of motivation, emotion, and executive functions.
   • Little dopamine in Schizophrenia patients
     • This causes negative symptoms
     • First gen antipsicotics lower DA even more
       • This leads to a constant state of negative symptoms
       • Second Gen helps with this
     • Runs from VTA to Cortex
       • Image

3. Nigrostriatal Pathway

   • DA from SN to Striatum
     • SN: Substantia Nigra
     • Striatum: Caudate + Putamen
   • Mediate motor movment
   • Image
   • Blockade of Dopamine leads to:
     • Parkinsons or EPS
       • EPS: Extraprimidal Symptoms
         • Akathisia
           • Fidgeting
             • Feeling restless like you can’t sit still. You may have the urge to tap your fingers, fidget, or jiggle your legs.
         • Dystonia
           • Involuntary Muscles
             • When your muscles contract involuntarily. It can be painful.
         • Parkinsonism
           • Tremors
             • Symptoms are similar to Parkinson’s disease. You may have a tremor, difficulty finishing thoughts or speaking, and stiff facial muscles
         • Tardive dyskinesia
           • Involuntary Face
             • Facial movements happen involuntarily. You may make a sucking or chewing motion with your mouth, stick out your tongue, or blink your eyes a lot.

4. Tuberoinfundibular Pathway

   • Moves from the HT to to PG
     • HT: Hipothalamus
     • PG: Pituitary Gland
     • Image
   • Blocking D2 Receptors leads to:
     • Hyperprolactinemia, which manifests as:
       • Amenorrea
         • Lack of Period
       • Galactorrea
         • A milky nipple discharge unrelated to the normal milk production of breast-feeding.
           • Can occur in women and men
       • Sexual Dysfunction
   • The TI pathway inhibits prolactin release
     • Prolactin causes the breasts to grow and make milk during pregnancy and after birth.

Images and files in the map