BackgroundInformation | TheSLC6A2geneencodesanorepinephrine(noradrenaline)transporter,whichisresponsIBLeforreuptakeofnorepinephrineintopresynapticnerveterminalsandisaregulatorofnorepinephrinehomeostasis.Italsoappearstotransporttheneurotransmitterdopamineinthesameway,buttoalesserdegree.IntheCNS,norepinephrineisinvolvedinanumberofphysiologicalresponsesincludingmood,sleepregulation,alertnessandarousal,bothcognitiveandnon-cognitiveexpressionofbehaviors,andcontroloftheendocrineandautonomicnervoussystems.Peripherally,norepinephrineispresentinsympatheticnerveendingsandhasfullcontrolofthesympatheticnervoussystem.Certainantidepressantmedicationsacttoraisenorepinephrine,suchastheSNRIsandthetricyclicantidepressants(TCAs).Inessence,thesemedicationspreventthenorepinephrinetransporterfromservingitspurpose.Norepinephrinethereforeremainsinthesynapselonger,allowingittoreachmorenormallevels.Sincethenorepinephrinetransporterisalsothoughttotransportdopaminetosomeextent,SNRIswouldalsoraisedopaminelevelsinthesynapse. |