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L-DOPA

Meaning

L-DOPA, or levodopa, is an naturally occurring amino acid precursor to the critical catecholamine neurotransmitters, including dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine, playing a fundamental role in the neuroendocrine regulatory system. This compound holds significant pharmacological importance because, unlike dopamine itself, it possesses the unique ability to traverse the protective blood-brain barrier, making it a vital therapeutic agent in clinical conditions characterized by central dopamine deficiency. L-DOPA is therefore essential for regulating motor control, mood, and certain key hormonal secretions, such as the inhibition of prolactin.