Homovanillic acid
Homovanillic Acid
Homovanillic acid (pronunciation: ho-mo-va-nil-lic acid) is a major metabolite of the neurotransmitter dopamine. It is used as a reagent to detect oxidative enzymes, and it has been linked to disorders such as Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia.
Etymology
The term "Homovanillic acid" is derived from the words "homo", meaning same, and "vanillic", referring to the vanilla plant from which the compound was first isolated. The "acid" part of the name refers to the compound's acidic properties.
Function
Homovanillic acid is produced in the body during the metabolism of dopamine. It is then excreted in the urine. The levels of homovanillic acid in the body can be used as an indicator of the rate of dopamine metabolism. This can be useful in diagnosing and monitoring certain medical conditions.
Related Terms
- Dopamine: A neurotransmitter that is a precursor to homovanillic acid.
- Metabolite: A substance produced during metabolism.
- Neurotransmitter: A chemical substance that transmits nerve impulses across a synapse.
- Parkinson's disease: A neurodegenerative disorder that affects dopamine-producing neurons in the brain.
- Schizophrenia: A mental disorder characterized by abnormal behavior, strange speech, and a decreased ability to understand reality.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Homovanillic acid
- Wikipedia's article - Homovanillic acid
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski