Scientists Discover How Octopamine Interacts with Mammalian Brain Cells to Prevent Cell Death: Could Lead to Future Therapies for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Psychiatric Disorders

Northwestern Medicine scientists have made an exciting discovery concerning octopamine, the primary neurotransmitter in invertebrates that is also present in trace amounts in mammals. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that octopamine interacts with cells in the mammalian brain to prevent cell death. When introduced at certain levels, octopamine triggers lactate production in astrocyte cultures, promoting cell survival. This understanding of octopamine’s role could lead to the development of therapies for neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders associated with dysregulated octopamine levels, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and bipolar disorder.