A developmental "switch" in chloride transporters occurs in most neurons resulting in GABAA mediated hyperpolarization in the adult. However, several neuronal cell subtypes maintain primarily depolarizing responses to GABAA receptor activation. Among this group are gonadotropin-releasing hormone-1 (GnRH) neurons, which control puberty and reproduction. NKCC1 is the primary chloride accumulator ...

Background: GABAA receptor γ2 and δ subunits are thought to be responsible for synaptic and extrasynaptic targeting. Results: We demonstrate here that α2 and α6 subunits can target δ/γ2 chimeras to synaptic and extrasynaptic sites. Conclusion: The α subunits play a direct role in GABAA receptor targeting. Significance: Different subunits of GABAA receptors encode intrinsic signals to control su...

GABAA receptors are a heterogeneous family of ligand-gated ion channels responsible for mediating inhibitory neurotransmission in the CNS. Since the identification of mammalian cDNAs encoding 13 GABAA-receptor subunits, the composition of native receptor molecules and their localization in the brain has been an area of intense study. We conclude that the number of major subtypes is probably les...

hippocampus is essentially involved in learning and memory processes, and is known to be a target for androgen actions. the high density of the androgen receptors in hippocampus shows that there must be some relationship between androgens and memory. androgen effects on spatial memory are complex and contradictory. some evidence suggests a positive correlation between androgens and spatial memo...

increasing number of neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases including: anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, epilepsy, stroke, substance abuse, neuropathic pain and hyperekplexia/startle disease. J.W. Hell, M.D. Ehlers (eds.), Structural and Functional Organization of the Synapse, Science+Business Media, LLC 2008 DO I : 10.1007/978-0-387-77232-5_ , © Springer 21 622 I.L. Arancibia-Carcamo et ...

The goal of this work was to define the contributions of intrinsic and synaptic mechanisms toward spontaneous network-wide bursting activity, observed in dissociated rat hippocampal cell cultures. This network behavior is typically characterized by short-duration bursts, separated by order of magnitude longer interburst intervals. We hypothesize that while short-timescale synaptic processes mod...

Objective: Isoflurane is widely used for inhaled general anesthesia. However, the mechanisms of isoflurane-induced cardiovascular depression are not fully understood. The effect of isoflurane on GABAA receptor expression in the NTS may underlie cardiovascular depression. Methods: The blood pressure (BP) and heart rates (HR) of conscious rats were confirmed initially using a CODA non-invasive bl...

Attenuated behavioral sensitivity to neurosteroids has been reported for mice deficient in the GABAA receptor subunit. We therefore investigated potential subunit-specific neurosteroid pharmacology of the following GABAA receptor isoforms in a transient expression system: 1 3 2L, 1 3 , 6 3 2L, and 6 3 . Potentiation of submaximal GABAA receptor currents by the neurosteroid tetrahydrodeoxycortic...

During early development, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) depolarizes and excites neurons, contrary to its typical function in the mature nervous system. As a result, developing networks are hyperexcitable and experience a spontaneous network activity that is important for several aspects of development. GABA is depolarizing because chloride is accumulated beyond its passive distribution in thes...

Benzodiazepine (BZ) binding site ligands are important central nervous system (CNS) drugs. Their numbers and our knowledge of how they interact with the BZ-binding site of GABAA receptors are both rapidly expanding. The GABAA receptor is a member of the ligand-gated ion channel superfamily. In general, it consists of an assembly of transmembrane pentamers of different subunit compositions (1). ...