MAO stands for monoamine oxidase and is an enzyme in the human body that cleaves some neurotransmitters in the brain. The neurotransmitters lose their effect due to the cleavage. The MAO inhibitors are drugs that are designed to prevent this cleavage. They are mainly used in the treatment of depression and Parkinson’s disease. MAO-inhibitors are only available in pharmacies and on prescription.
Effect
As described above, MAO inhibitors prevent the cleavage of some neurotransmitters in the brain. These neurotransmitters are mainly dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline, the so-called monoamines. These neurotransmitters serve to transmit signals in the brain.
Dopamine, for example, plays an important role in motor function, psychological processes and hormone balance. The neurotransmitter norepinephrine is both a hormone and a neurotransmitter and plays an important role above all in the sympathetic nervous system. Serotonin is also both a hormone and a neurotransmitter.
In the central nervous system in particular, it influences a large number of functions. If these neurotransmitters are split, they lose their effect of signal transmission. MAO inhibitors artificially maintain the concentration of the substances.
There are two different enzyme types, the so-called MAO A and MAO B enzyme types. The MAO-A enzyme types are more responsible for the breakdown of noradrenalis and serotonin, whereas the MAO-B types break down other monoamines. Dopamine and tyramine are degraded by both the MAO-A and the MAO-B form.
If the MAO inhibitors block only one of the two enzyme types, they are called selective, otherwise they are called non-selective/unselective. In addition, MAO-inhibitors can have reversible, i.e. reversible properties. However, there are also MAO inhibitors whose effect cannot be reversed. They are then referred to as irreversible. Due to these different properties, the different types of monoamine oxidase inhibitors also have different applications.
Indication
MAO inhibitors prevent the cleavage of some neurotransmitters in the brain. These neurotransmitters are mainly dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline, the so-called monoamines. These neurotransmitters serve to transmit signals in the brain.
Dopamine, for example, plays an important role in motor function, psychological processes and hormone balance. The neurotransmitter norepinephrine is both a hormone and a neurotransmitter and plays an important role above all in the sympathetic nervous system. Serotonin is also both a hormone and a neurotransmitter.
In the central nervous system in particular, it influences a large number of functions. If these neurotransmitters are split, they lose their effect of signal transmission. MAO inhibitors artificially maintain the concentration of the substances.
There are two different enzyme types, the so-called MAO A and MAO B enzyme types. The MAO-A enzyme types are more responsible for the breakdown of noradrenalis and serotonin, whereas the MAO-B types break down other monoamines. Dopamine and tyramine are degraded by both the MAO-A and the MAO-B form.
If the MAO inhibitors block only one of the two enzyme types, they are called selective, otherwise they are called non-selective/unselective. In addition, MAO-inhibitors can have reversible, i.e. reversible properties. However, there are also MAO inhibitors whose effect cannot be reversed. They are then referred to as irreversible. Due to these different properties, the different types of monoamine oxidase inhibitors also have different applications.
