Autoreceptor
![This diagram shows pre-synaptic neuron (left) releasing a neurotransmitter, noradrenaline (norepinephrine), into the synaptic cleft. The transmitter acts on the receptors of the post-synaptic neuron (right), but also on autoreceptors of the pre-synaptic neuron. Activation of these autoreceptors typically inhibits further release of the neurotransmitter.Amphetamine, trace amines, and dopamine can activate TAAR1 in dopamine neurons, but only dopamine activates D2sh. These receptors have opposite effects on protein kinase signaling. This results in opposite effects on DAT phosporylation, and consequently, on reuptake as well.](/Images/godic/202412/22/Autorezeptor0952.png")
![A pharmacodynamic model of amphetamine and TAAR1](/Images/godic/202412/22/TAAR1_Dopamine.svg0952.png")
An autoreceptor is a type of receptor located in the membranes of presynaptic nerve cells. It serves as part of a negative feedback loop in signal transduction. It is only sensitive to the neurotransmitters or hormones released by the neuron on which the autoreceptor sits. Similarly, a heteroreceptor is sensitive to neurotransmitters and hormones that are not released by the cell on which it sits. A given receptor can act as either an autoreceptor or a heteroreceptor, depending upon the type of transmitter released by the cell on which it is embedded.