In lamina II of the spinal dorsal horn, synaptic inhibition mediated by ionotropic GABAA and glycine receptors contributes to the integration of peripheral nociceptive messages. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were performed from lamina II neurons in spinal cord slices to study the properties of miniature IPSCs (mIPSCs) mediated by activation of GABAA and glycine receptors in immature ( 30 d)...

We compared the distribution of GABAA and GABAB binding sites in the cochlear nucleus using quantitative receptor autoradiography with [3H]GABA. To visualize GABAA binding sites, GABAB binding sites were blocked with +/- baclofen. To visualize GABAB binding sites, isoguvacine was used to block GABAA binding sites. GABAA binding sites predominated over GABAB, although there were marked regional ...

In mature neurons AMPA receptors cluster at excitatory synapses primarily on dendritic spines, whereas GABAA receptors cluster at inhibitory synapses mainly on the soma and dendritic shafts. The molecular mechanisms underlying the precise sorting of these receptors remain unclear. By directly studying the constitutive exocytic vesicles of AMPA and GABAA receptors in vitro and in vivo, we demons...

BACKGROUND Volatile anesthetics act primarily through upregulating the activity of γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors. They also exhibit antiinflammatory actions in the lung. Rodent alveolar type II (ATII) epithelial cells express GABAA receptors and the inflammatory factor cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The goal of this study was to determine whether human ATII cells also express GABAA re...

Introduction: 17&beta-Estradiol modulates nociception by binding to the estrogenic receptors and also by allosteric interaction with other membrane-bound receptors like glutamate and GABAA receptors. In addition to its autonomic functions, paragigantocellularis lateralis (LPGi) is involved in the pain modulation, too. The aim of the current study was to investigate the involvement of the membra...

Background: Estradiol and progesterone as well as hippocampal GABAA receptors are believed to play a role in the modulation of pain. The aim of present study was to investigate the effect of intrahippocampal injections of GABAA receptor agonist (muscimol) and GABAA receptor antagonist (picrotoxin) on pain sensitivity during estrous cycle. Methods: Pain sensitivity was evaluated in rats ...

Understanding the effects of tobacco smoking on neuroadaptations in GABAA receptor levels over alcohol withdrawal will provide critical insights for the treatment of comorbid alcohol and nicotine dependence. We conducted parallel studies in human subjects and nonhuman primates to investigate the differential effects of tobacco smoking and nicotine on changes in GABAA receptor availability durin...

THIP (4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4-c]pyridin-3-ol) is a GABAA receptor agonist with varying potencies and efficacies at γ-subunit-containing receptors. More importantly, THIP acts as a selective superagonist at δ-subunit-containing receptors (δ-GABAA Rs) at clinically relevant concentrations. Evaluation of THIP as a potential anticonvulsant has given contradictory results in different animal...

The inhibitory neurotransmitter !-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has multiple receptors. In mammals, the GABAA receptor subtype is modulated by neurosteroids. However, whether steroid interaction with the GABAA receptor is unique to mammals or a conserved feature in vertebrates is unknown. Thus, neurosteroid modulation of the GABAA receptor was investigated in the brain of the bullfrog (Rana catesbei...

-Aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors, a family of Cl -permeable ion channels, mediate fast synaptic inhibition as postsynaptically enriched receptors for -aminobutyric acid at GABAergic synapses. Here we describe an alternative type of inhibitionmediatedbyGABAAreceptors present onneocortical glutamatergic nerve terminals and examine the underlying signaling mechanism(s). By monitoring th...