SLC22A3

Solute carrier family 22 member 3 (SLC22A3) also known as the organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3) or extraneuronal monoamine transporter (EMT) is a is_associated_with::protein that in humans is encoded by the SLC22A3 is_associated_with::gene.

Distribution
OCT3 is widely distributed in brain tissue. It is not yet completely clear whether its location is primarily neuronal or glial. Areas of the brain in which it has been reported include: hippocampus, retrosplenial cortex, visual cortex, hypothalamus, amygdala, nucleus accumbens, thalamus, raphe nucleus, subiculum, superior and inferior colliculi, and islands of Calleja.

Pharmacology
Organic cation transporter 3 is a polyspecific transporter whose transport is independent of sodium. Known substrates for transport include: histamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine and is_associated_with::MPP+. Capacity for transport and affinity for these substrates may vary between rat and human isoforms however.

Transport activity of OCT3 is inhibited by recreational and pharmaceutical drugs, including MDMA, PCP, MK-801, amphetamine, methamphetamine and Cocaine. Transport is also inhibited by the chemical is_associated_with::decynium-22 and physiological concentrations of is_associated_with::corticosterone and is_associated_with::cortisol. Ki values for decynium-22 and corticosterone inhibition of OCT3 transport are respectively 10 and 100 times lower than Ki values of OCT1 and OCT2.