[Mechanisms underlying dopaminergic neurotoxicity in ischemic cerebral damage]

Dopamine(DA) is a neurotransmitter, but it also serves as a neurotoxin under certain pathological conditions. Accumulating evidences indicate that DA plays an important role in ischemic cerebral damage. The mechanism by which DA exacerbates the neuronal damage remains unclear. Many mechanisms have been proposed to explain the DA neurotoxicity. One possibility is that DA leads to the formation of free radicals which are cytotoxic. Another possibility is that direct dopamine receptor stimulation may mediate dopaminergic neurotoxicity. It is also possible that DA modulates excitotoxicity of excitatory amino acid.