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. 2015 Sep 14;5:14093. doi: 10.1038/srep14093

Figure 5. NAT expression in dopaminergic cells of birds and reptiles compensates for the loss of DAT.

Figure 5

(a) In mammals, amphibians, and fish, the dopamine transporter (DAT) regulates the synaptic availability of dopamine (DA, red circles) through direct reuptake, thus limiting the action of DA on post-synaptically expressed dopamine receptors (DR, corresponding to either D1 and D2, depending on the specific cell type and pathway considered). (b) In birds and reptiles, the noradrenaline transporter (NAT), which is functionally capable of DA reuptake, is expressed in DA cells, providing compensation for the loss of the DAT gene.