Salsolinol (6,7-dihydroxy-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline) is present in various edibles. It is available as R and S enantiomers. R-salsolinol in predominantly found in the brain tissue of humans.

Salsolinol is the condensation product of acetaldehyde and dopamine. Salsolinol is a potential neurotoxin suspected to contribute to alcohol abuse.

Salsolinol is the condensation product of acetaldehyde and dopamine. Salsolinol is a potential neurotoxin suspected to contribute to alcohol abuse. It appears that salsolinol excites the ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neurons indirectly by activating μ-opioid receptors (MORs), which inhibit GABA neurons in the VTA.

Salsolinol, a neurotoxin, can serve as a prolactin-releasing factor and an etiological factor in the tuberoinfundibular pathway and in Parkinson′s disease (PD), respectively. It can also act as a modulator of catecholaminergic neurotransmission in the nigrostriatal pathway. In central nervous system, salsolinol can change the role of dopaminergic neurons and dopamine metabolism.

This compound is featured on the Dopamine and Norepinephrine Metabolism page of the Handbook of Receptor Classification and Signal Transduction. To browse other handbook pages, click here.