getting neurotransmitters to cross the bbb

[nuke]

So why does levo-dopa more effectively pass through the BBB than dopamine? Does it use an amino acid transporter system?

 

[nuke]

It works completely differently from Gabapentin though doesn't it? Or maybe not as much as I thought.

It probably modulates alpha-2-delta subunits and GABAergic receptors (whereas gabapentin just works on a-2-d).

 

[vecktor]

So why does levo-dopa more effectively pass through the BBB than dopamine? Does it use an amino acid transporter system?

yes
LAT-1 is the transporter, which also transports phenylalanine and other Aromatic R sub unit amino acids.

 

[mulberryman]

So why does levo-dopa more effectively pass through the BBB than dopamine? Does it use an amino acid transporter system?

Levo-dopa is technically 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine, crosses the blood brain barrier as a form of phenylanine, and is then metabolized into dopamine by the lyase enzyme, aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase.

 

[Broshious]

It probably modulates alpha-2-delta subunits and GABAergic receptors (whereas gabapentin just works on a-2-d).

Why do you think it affects calcium channels? It being Phenibut.