Effects of Trace Amines on the Dopaminergic Mesencephalic System

Trace amines (TAs) are a class of endogenous compounds, which are heterogeneously distributed throughout the mammalian brain and peripheral nervous tissues, despite being at relatively low levels. It is now largely accepted that TAs are not pure inactive byproducts of amino acid metabolism but, instead, are considered important neuromodulators involved in the regulation of key brain physiological functions.This chapter presents an overview of the close interplay between TAs and dopamine, also discussing recent experimental evidence on the neuromodulatory effects of TAs on the activity of mesencephalic dopaminergic (DAergic) system, supporting the potential involvement of TAs in several physiological and pathological conditions associated with the activity of the DAergic mesencephalic system.