Dopamine synthesis/metabolism

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DrPettans

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OK i think I'm losing perspective. I've read that:
- Dopamine is made in arcuatus nucleus of the hypothalamus.
- Dopamine is found in ventral tegmental area (midbrain).
- Dopamine is a precursor of Epi and NE
- Dopamine's main breakdown product is Homovalinic Acid (which is increased in adrenal medulla tumors like neuroblastoma in children and pheochromocytoma in adults).

That said,
questions:
Is dopamine also synthesized in ventral tegmental area or in adrenal medulla or is it transported there from the hypothalamus (arcuatus nucleus)? or is it synthesized anywhere else?
Neuroblastoma has increased homovalinic acid because it's a product made when it synthesizes Epi and NE? or does it also create DA?

Sorry i think when you study so much sometimes you overthink/mix up things, and this is what's going on here I'm afraid...
 
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