Sadness hormone what is, where it occurs and how it works

The sadness hormone is not a specific one. There are several hormones involved in the formation of emotions. It is not only one that is involved in the process, but there are several involved, such as monoamines such as norepinephrine and serotonin.

Many studies argue that depression is due to a low level of activity of one or more monoaminergic synapses, although others believe more importantly the involvement of dopamine and other hormones such as oxytocin and opiates in the regulation of sadness as emotion. Most recent studies pose the glutamtergic hypothesis of depression, in which neurotransmitters such as glutamate and GABA participate. Since it would be very extensive to talk about all of them, in this Psychology-online article, we will mention those that have been demonstrated mostly related to the Sadness hormone, where is produced and how it works.

1. Where the hormone of sadness occurs
2. How the sadness hormone is produced through monoamines
3. How the hormone of sadness is produced by glutamergic
4. How the sadness hormone works

Where the hormone of sadness occurs

¿What is the hormone of sadness? We will focus on those that have demonstrated a direct implication in depression. Thus, if you wonder what hormones affect low mood, these are monoamines, specifically norepinephrine and, especially serotonin and glutamergic such as glutamate and gaba.

All the mentioned hormones They are synthesized in neurons, specifically In the nucleus, and are distributed throughout the body through the action potential, a kind of electric current that moves information from one neuron to another.

In the following sections, we will see how the hormone of sadness is produced by monoamines and glutamergic.

How the sadness hormone is produced through monoamines

Some of the hormones linked to the feeling of sadness are monoamines, specifically norepinephrine and serotonin. Next, we will see how they are synthesized to be called sadness hormones.

Noreprenaline

To understand why norepinephrine is a hormone causing sadness, we will show you the process by which the noreprenaline In our body:

1. Noreprenaline is a catecholamine that is synthesized from tyrosine.
2. Noreprenaline enters catecholaminérgic neurons through a transport mechanism that is not specific, but is shared by other amino acids.
3. Once inside the neuron, in the presence of the hydroxylase tyrosine, it becomes L-Dopa, a limiting step that is very difficult to produce. This, in the presence of the Aromatic Discarboxylase, becomes dopamine, a neurotransmitter.
4. Once the dopamine is synthesized, it is introduced into the synaptic vesicles and, to reach norepinephrine, the dopamine-base-decarboxylase is needed.
5. The noreprenaline inactivation It takes place, mainly, for the reuptake of the released enclosures that re -enter using a specific high -affinity transport mechanism for each of them.
6. Once within the varicity, a part of them will be degraded by the MAO (oxidase monoamine) and another part will enter the vesicles to be used again. Another part will be degraded before entering the cell, they will pass to the blood and eliminate through the urine.

Serotonin

To determine that serotonin is a hormone responsible for sadness, we will see How to synthesize in our body From the tryptophan amino acid.

1. Tryptophan enters serotonergic neurons through a transporter that is not specific to tryptophan.
2. Once inside the neuron, the tryptophan becomes 5-hydroxid-triptophane transforms into 5-HT tripamine (serotonin).
3. Serotonin is stored inside the synaptic vesicles and is released when calcium channels are opened in the arrival of the action potential.
4. The serotonin inhibition It is exclusive for reuptake, a conveyor that specifically recognizes serotonin and will introduce serotonin into the presynaptic neuron.
5. Much of the serotonin will be degraded by the MAO, that degrades any monoamine that is free in the cytosol. Before being degraded, a part could enter inside the vesicles and can be reused as neurotransmitter. In this article, we tell you more detail what neurotransmitters are and how they are classified.
6. The products resulting from degradation will go to the blood and will be eliminated by the urine.

How the hormone of sadness is produced by glutamergic

As we have seen the sadness hormone has many names, because in the formation of emotions different types of hormones involve. Some of them are glutamergic such as glutamate and gaba. Discover how they are synthesized to be called hormones of sadness.

Glutamate

A neurotransmitter, whose synthesis of glutamate can only happen if there are glutamine reserves, since this is its precursor. While it is manufacturing, it is able to regulate its own synthesis, so that glutamate Inhibits glutamine for a process called the inhibition of the final product.

Specifically, glutamate It is stored in synaptic vesicles And it is released when calcium channels open. It produces its effect on the postsynaptic membrane and is inactive for neuronal reuptake, but the greatest amount enters the interior of neighboring glial cells by active transportation.

The glutamate that enters the glial cells will become glutamine due to the action of the synthetase glutamine and will serve to form more glutamate.

GABA

The GABA is synthesized from the Glabaxilase glutamate of gabaergic neurons). This synthesis takes place in the terminal button. Once synthesized, they are stored within synaptic vesicles when the action potential for exocytosis arrives. It is inactive for reuptake of the terminal and glial button from high affinity markers that specifically recognize the GABA and transport it into the cell.

In this article you will find more information about what the GABA is and what it is for.

How the sadness hormone works

The presence or not of The mentioned hormones previously, together with others, will regulate emotional expression causing states of sadness to a greater or lesser extent.

Until now it has always been believed that serotonin It could be the one that presents a greater involvement in moods and in aggressive behaviors or pain regulation, among other functions, such as the regulation of carbohydrate intake or the sleep-vigilia cycle.

Therefore, serotonin would be closely related to clinical disorders such as depression. That is why its supply in pharmacological treatments is used. It is also true that it would seem to have a greater relevance on top, since it is the one that also regulates hormones such as dopamine, norepinephrine and adrenaline, involved in pleasure processes. Discover the differences between adrenaline and norepinephrine.

Lately, the importance of glutamate in the treatment of depression and sadness has been demonstrated, being the endogenous opioids an objective study potential in its involvement in sadness, so that the low levels of these can enhance negative emotional expressions. In this article, we tell you more detail which are the neurotransmitters involved in depression.

This article is merely informative, in psychology-online we have no power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

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