HORMONE of SADNESS

The sadness hormone is not one in particular. There are several hormones that are involved in the formation of emotions. It is not only one that is involved in the process, but there are several involved, such as monoamines such as norepinephrine and serotonin.

Many studies argue that depression is due to a low level of activity of one or more monoaminergic synapses, although others believe more importantly, the implication that dopamine and other hormones such as oxytocin and opiates have in the regulation of sadness such as emotion. More recent studies put forward the glutamatergic hypothesis of depression, involving neurotransmitters such as glutamate and GABA. Since it would be very extensive to talk about all of them, in this Online Psychology article, we will mention those that have been shown to be mostly related to sadness hormone, where it is produced and how it works.

Index

1. Where the sadness hormone is produced
2. How the sadness hormone is produced by monoamines
3. How the sadness hormone is produced by glutamatergic agents
4. How the sadness hormone works

What is the hormone of sadness? We will focus on those that have been shown to be directly implicated in depression. So if you're wondering which hormones affect low mood, these are the monoamines, specifically the noradrenaline and, above all the serotonin and glutamatergic like glutamate and GABA.

All hormones mentioned are synthesized in neurons, specifically in the core, and are distributed throughout the body through the action potential, a kind of electrical current that moves information from one neuron to another.

In the following sections, we will see how the sadness hormone is produced by monoamines and glutamatergic drugs.

Some of the hormones linked to the feeling of sadness are monoamines, specifically norepinephrine and serotonin. Next, we will see how they are synthesized to be called sadness hormones.

Noradrenaline

To understand why norepinephrine is a hormone that causes sadness, we are going to show you the process by which the noradrenaline in our body:

1. Norepinephrine is a catecholamine that is synthesized from tyrosine.
2. Norepinephrine enters catecholaminergic neurons through a transport mechanism that is not specific, but is shared by other amino acids.
3. Once inside the neuron, in the presence of the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase, it is converted to L-DOPA, a limiting step that is very difficult to produce. This, in the presence of the aromatic enzyme decarboxylase, becomes dopamine, a neurotransmitter.
4. Once dopamine is synthesized, it is introduced into synaptic vesicles and, to reach norepinephrine, the enzyme dopamine-beta-decarboxylase is needed.
5. The noradrenaline inactivation it takes place, mainly, by the reuptake of the released enzymes that re-enter using a specific high-affinity transport mechanism for each one of them.
6. Once inside the varicosity, a part of them will be degraded by MAO (monoamine oxidase) and another part will enter the vesicles to be used again later. Another part will be degraded before entering the cell, these will pass into the blood and are eliminated through the urine.

Serotonin

To determine that serotonin is a hormone responsible for sadness, we will see how it is synthesized in our body from the amino acid tryptophan.

1. Tryptophan enters serotonergic neurons via a transporter that is not specific for tryptophan.
2. Once inside the neuron, tryptophan turns into 5-hydroxy-tryptophan and turns into 5-HT tryptamine (serotonin).
3. Serotonin is stored within synaptic vesicles and is released when calcium channels open on arrival of the action potential.
4. The serotonin inhibition It is unique to reuptake, a transporter that specifically recognizes serotonin and will introduce serotonin into the presynaptic neuron.
5. Much of the serotonin will be broken down by MAO, which breaks down any monoamine that is free in the cytosol. Before being degraded, a part could enter the interior of the vesicles and can be reused as a neurotransmitter. In this article, we tell you in more detail what are neurotransmitters and how they are classified.
6. The resulting breakdown products will pass into the blood and will be eliminated in the urine.

As we have seen, the sadness hormone has many names, since different types of hormones intervene in the formation of emotions. Some of them are glutamatergic like glutamate and GABA. Discover how they are synthesized to be called sadness hormones.

Glutamate

A neurotransmitter, whose synthesis of glutamate can only happen if there are reserves of glutamine, since this is its precursor. While it is being manufactured, it is able to regulate its own synthesis, so that glutamate inhibits glutamine by a process called end product inhibition.

Specifically, glutamate is stored in synaptic vesicles and is released when calcium channels open. It produces its effect on the postsynaptic membrane and is inactivated for neuronal reuptake, but the greater amount enters the interior of the glial cells neighboring by active transport.

Glutamate that enters glial cells will be converted into glutamine by the action of the enzyme glutamine synthetase and will serve to re-form more glutamate.

GABA

GABA is synthesized from glutamate decarboxylase of GABAergic neurons). This synthesis takes place at the terminal button. Once synthesized, they are stored within synaptic vesicles when the action potential for exocytosis arrives. It is inactivated by reuptake of the glial and terminal button from high-affinity markers that specifically recognize GABA and transport it within the cell.

In this article you will find more information about what is GABA and what is it for.

The presence or not of the hormones mentioned previously, along with others, will regulate emotional expression causing states of sadness to appear to a greater or lesser extent.

Until now it has always been believed that serotonin it could be the one with the greatest involvement in moods and aggressive behaviors or regulation of pain, among other functions, such as regulation of carbohydrate intake or cycle sleep-wake.

Therefore, serotonin would be closely related to clinical disorders such as depression. That is why its supply is used in pharmacological treatments. It is also true that it would appear to have a greater relevance the above MAO, since it is the one that also regulates hormones such as dopamine, norepinephrine and adrenaline, involved in pleasure processes. Discover the differences between adrenaline and noradrenaline.

Lately, the importance of glutamate in the treatment of depression and sadness has been demonstrated, being the endogenous opioids a potential study objective in its involvement in sadness, so that low levels of these can enhance negative emotional expressions. In this article, we will tell you in more detail what are the neurotransmitters involved in depression.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Sadness hormone: what is it, where is it produced and how does it work, we recommend that you enter our category of Neuropsychology.

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