Neurochemie

Neurochemie (neurochemistry) is the scientific study of the chemical processes that underlie nervous system function. It focuses on how molecules such as neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, receptors, enzymes, and metabolites govern neural signaling, synaptic plasticity, and brain metabolism.

Key topics include the synthesis, storage, release, and termination of neurotransmitter signals; receptor pharmacology; transporter systems; and the metabolism and trafficking of signaling molecules. Classic neurotransmitters include acetylcholine, dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, glutamate, and GABA, while neuromodulators include endocannabinoids, nitric oxide, and neurotrophic factors.

Neurochemistry also covers energy use in the brain, such as glucose metabolism and lactate shuttling, as well as lipid signaling and neuroimmune interactions. The field addresses how chemical processes support development, learning, and adaptation, and how dysregulation contributes to disease.

Techniques used in neurochemistry range from in vitro assays and brain tissue analyses to in vivo methods such as microdialysis, voltammetry, and imaging. Analytical approaches include high-performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, immunoassays, and molecular biology methods to quantify and manipulate molecular signaling.

Applications include understanding normal brain function, disease mechanisms in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, depression, and addiction, and guiding pharmacological interventions. The field informs drug development, diagnostics, and the study of developmental and aging-related changes in neurochemical signaling. It is inherently interdisciplinary, integrating chemistry, biology, pharmacology, and medicine.