Dopamine Receptors & Lung Disease in Mice

The function of dopamine as a brain hormone in well known, however, its essential role in lungs and kidneys have been overlooked Some decades-old studies demonstrated that dopamine inhibits lung cancer growth and lung disease, and boosts the immune system.

Expert Insight

• The genetic code of mice is not much different than that of humans.

  A study published in the July 1994 issue of the journal "Cancer Research" shows that, when Japanese researchers treated lung cancer in mice with a dopamine agonist (a drug that binds to dopamine receptors) the tumors were inhibited in a dose-dependent manner.

Effects

• Lung edema can be deadly, but high dopamine levels enhance the lung's self-defense mechanisms.

  Lung edema (water-clogging) caused by abnormal electrolytes occurs in lungs and heart disease, and can be fatal. As published in the "American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine," researchers worked with dopamine D1 agonist drugs and found that a high amount of dopamine leads to a faster lung clearance rate.

Significance

• Dopamine production and receptor sensitivity decreases with age, studies show. However good nutrition with proper fatty acid balance and vitamins helps synthesize dopamine. A high level of antioxidants, such as vitamins and chemicals from plants (phytochemicals) help protect dopamine cells from destruction. While you want to have high dopamine production, you want to avoid the cell destruction that comes naturally with dopamine degradation.