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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SLS on February 9, 2009, at 7:16:51
Adenosine is a nucleoside substance that the brain uses to inhibit and "quiet" hyperexcitable cells. Adenosine is considered to be a gliotransmitter, as it is secreted by astrocytes, a type of glial cell, and not neurons.
One of the primary cites of adenosine receptors are glutamatergic neuron terminals. It gets somewhat complicated in that their are several types of receptors, but for the sake of understanding the pathway, A1 adenosine receptors are the target of the inhibitory message.
Normally, adenosine release from astrocytes promotes sleep-pressure - the desire to sleep. By inhibiting glutamate neurotransmission, it also inhibits the release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, one of the major reward centers of the brain.
Caffeine is a substance which antagonizes (blocks) adenosine receptors. It does just the opposite of adenosine. It allows for an increase in glutamate (disinhibition), an increase in dopamine and reward, and wakefulness.
Some of the other contributors to the modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission are GABA neurons the main inhibitory neurons and receptors in the brain, which are now known to express adenosine A2a receptors, which work to oppose A1 receptors. Caffeine would increase GABA transmission and produce a calming effect. This might be why some people find coffee calming or soothing.
I am just beginning to understand this stuff, so my explanation is far from concise. However, I thought it was important to demonstrate the events that lead up to caffeine producing an increased release of dopamine in the striatum.
Caffeine is pretty cool stuff. I've been using it for 25 years as a palliative drug to reduce the vegetative aspects of depression.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on February 10, 2009, at 12:50:58
In reply to Adenosine receptors, caffeine, and dopamine, posted by SLS on February 9, 2009, at 7:16:51
Scott but isn't that the opposite of calming? If it relieves vegatative states isn't that stimulating? I drink tea l cup hot and two bottles of green tea as mild stimulant although I read somewhere that green tea is calming. Confusing. Phillipa
Posted by SLS on February 11, 2009, at 7:44:05
In reply to Re: Adenosine receptors, caffeine, and dopamine » SLS, posted by Phillipa on February 10, 2009, at 12:50:58
> Scott but isn't that the opposite of calming? If it relieves vegatative states isn't that stimulating? I drink tea l cup hot and two bottles of green tea as mild stimulant although I read somewhere that green tea is calming. Confusing. Phillipa
Two different pathways can be affected by the same drug. Often, one predominates. One can have and increase in energy without inducing anxiety. Different people react quite disparately to caffeine. I know one gentleman who could not sleep unless he had coffee just before bed.
I think tobacco can be energizing and calming at the same time. I have never been a regular smoker, so I don't really know.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on February 11, 2009, at 19:50:14
In reply to Re: Adenosine receptors, caffeine, and dopamine, posted by SLS on February 11, 2009, at 7:44:05
Scott thanks went through a period of time when working evenings and could drink as much coffee as I needed or wanted and sleep like a baby. As for smoking it was very stimulating for me not relaxing at all. Love Phillipa
Posted by SLS on February 19, 2009, at 22:15:00
In reply to Adenosine receptors, caffeine, and dopamine, posted by SLS on February 9, 2009, at 7:16:51
I have been experimenting with the timing and amount of caffeine I take in. I have tried to stay away from it as much as I can in order to not build up too much of a tolerance for it. I was trying to wait as late in the day as possible and use it just before an event that I would have to be more functional at. This strategy has failed miserably. I have actually made things worse.
I can't help but to believe that the caffeine is acting as a zeitgeber to reset the endocrine body clock. I find that as long as I have some caffeine immediately when I wake up in the morning, I do much better during the day, and I am not sacrificing the energy boost that it gives me when I take additional caffeine later in the day. I seemingly was confusing my body clock by not taking my first dose of caffeine in the morning when other zeitgebers are cuing circadian rhythms.
- Scott
Posted by desolationrower on February 20, 2009, at 17:43:59
In reply to Re: Adenosine receptors, caffeine, and dopamine, posted by SLS on February 19, 2009, at 22:15:00
caffiene is good sh*t. it also helps improve bbb impermeability. i think its better taken in tea or coffee b/c of the extra things in those that have some good health effects, and slows absorption.
-d/r
also too bad about adenosine's ridiculously short t1/2, it would be nice for sleep. caffeine's main drawback is sleep disruption, including sleep quality. i think it takes a whiel of constant intake to get tolerance to that.
-d/r
Posted by sregan on May 11, 2010, at 17:13:21
In reply to Adenosine receptors, caffeine, and dopamine, posted by SLS on February 9, 2009, at 7:16:51
Scott,
I have a balance issue with adenosine I believe. I think I have way too much running through my system. I'm definitely dopamine starved.
I've tried caffeine and in the short term it does fine but more than a couple of weeks I find my adrenals depleted.
I've read that Vinpocetine inhibits adenosine uptake. Would you know something that might increase it's uptake?
> Adenosine is a nucleoside substance that the brain uses to inhibit and "quiet" hyperexcitable cells. Adenosine is considered to be a gliotransmitter, as it is secreted by astrocytes, a type of glial cell, and not neurons.
>
> One of the primary cites of adenosine receptors are glutamatergic neuron terminals. It gets somewhat complicated in that their are several types of receptors, but for the sake of understanding the pathway, A1 adenosine receptors are the target of the inhibitory message.
>
> Normally, adenosine release from astrocytes promotes sleep-pressure - the desire to sleep. By inhibiting glutamate neurotransmission, it also inhibits the release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, one of the major reward centers of the brain.
>
> Caffeine is a substance which antagonizes (blocks) adenosine receptors. It does just the opposite of adenosine. It allows for an increase in glutamate (disinhibition), an increase in dopamine and reward, and wakefulness.
>
> Some of the other contributors to the modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission are GABA neurons the main inhibitory neurons and receptors in the brain, which are now known to express adenosine A2a receptors, which work to oppose A1 receptors. Caffeine would increase GABA transmission and produce a calming effect. This might be why some people find coffee calming or soothing.
>
> I am just beginning to understand this stuff, so my explanation is far from concise. However, I thought it was important to demonstrate the events that lead up to caffeine producing an increased release of dopamine in the striatum.
>
> Caffeine is pretty cool stuff. I've been using it for 25 years as a palliative drug to reduce the vegetative aspects of depression.
>
>
> - Scott
>
This is the end of the thread.
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