Mechanism of Action
Reserpine irreversibly blocks the vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT). This normally transports free norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine from the cytoplasm of the presynaptic nerve terminal into storage vesicles for subsequent release into the synaptic cleft ("exocytosis"). Unprotected neurotransmitters are metabolized by MAO (as well as by COMT) in the cytoplasm and consequently never reach the synapse.
It may take the body days to weeks to replenish the depleted VMAT, so that reserpine's effects are long-lasting.
Read more about this topic: Reserpine
Famous quotes containing the words mechanism of, mechanism and/or action:
“The two elements the traveler first captures in the big city are extrahuman architecture and furious rhythm. Geometry and anguish. At first glance, the rhythm may be confused with gaiety, but when you look more closely at the mechanism of social life and the painful slavery of both men and machines, you see that it is nothing but a kind of typical, empty anguish that makes even crime and gangs forgivable means of escape.”
—Federico García Lorca (1898–1936)
“The law isn’t justice. It’s a very imperfect mechanism. If you press exactly the right buttons and are also lucky, justice may show up in the answer. A mechanism is all the law was ever intended to be.”
—Raymond Chandler (1888–1959)
“Mountains are to the rest of the body of the earth, what violent muscular action is to the body of man. The muscles and tendons of its anatomy are, in the mountain, brought out with force and convulsive energy, full of expression, passion, and strength.”
—John Ruskin (1819–1900)