The post-synaptic A1 Adenosine neuroreceptor may be of more value to potential pharmacological therapies targeting motor disorders originating in the Basal Ganglia (e.g. Parkinson's Disease) than current research indicates.
There's my original statement for the day. Happy?
actually parkinsons disease originates in the substantia nigra and happens when 70% and more of the dopamine producing neurons are destroyed...the typical therapy is to give the the dopamine precursor L-Dopa (L-tyrosine to L-Dopa to dopamine to norepinephrine to epinephrine)
the adensosine receptors are occupied by adensine di phosphate (ADP) which is the by product of adensine tri phosphate (ATP)...ATP is the energy source the the G-coupled proteins use to move Na+ (sodium ions) back out side the neuron after an action potential and K+ (potassium ions) back inside the neuron after the action potential...so that the neuron returns to its resting potential of -57 mV...then after some stimulus the K+ goes out of the neuron (depolarization) and then Na+ enters the neuron creating the action potential...when enought ADP occupies the receptor you become tired and fall asleep and the ADP is converted back to ATP (like recharging a battery) by a process called rephosphoralization....caffeine binds to these receptors so that ADP can not and this is why caffeine keeps you awake (not to mention that you get a dopamine buzz as well) and to much dopamine eventually means to much epinephrine (adrenaline) and thus the nervous jittery feeling when you drink to much coffee...
dopamine from the substantia nigra controls fine motor movement....the neurotransmitter acetylcholine also control muscluar movement as a neuromuscular junction neurotransmitter which is produced in a region of the brain called the nucleus basalis...the destruction of these acetylcholine neurons in the nucleus basalis is called alzheimers disease...
the nucleus accumbens and caudate-putamen region in the meso limbic pathway are the priary dopamine regions and is reponsible for the reward/pleasure circuitry in the brain...it is also the region where all types of addiction occur such as drugs, gambling, food, shopping etc...
anyways i am studying neuroscience at columbia university and have taken classes at UC Berkely and Stanford...so i though i would clarify and correct the quoted statement...
