Abstract
GABA, acting via GABAA receptors, is well-accepted as the main inhibitory neurotransmitter of the mature brain, where it dampens neuronal excitability. The receptors properties have been studied extensively, yielding important information about its structure, pharmacology, and regulation that are summarized in this review. Several GABAergic drugs have been commonly used as anesthetics, sedatives, and anticonvulsants for decades. However, findings that GABA has critical functions in brain development, in particular during the late embryonic and neonatal period, raise worthwhile questions regarding the side effects of GABAergic drugs that may lead to long-term cognitive deficits. Here, we will review some of these drugs in parallel with the control of CNS development that GABA exerts via activation of GABAA receptors. This review aims to provide a basic science and clinical perspective on the function of GABA and related pharmaceuticals acting at GABAA receptors.
Keywords: GABA, anesthesia, epilepsy, neurogenesis, glutamate, proliferation, apoptosis, synaptic
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets
Title: GABAA Receptors, Anesthetics and Anticonvulsants in Brain Development
Volume: 7 Issue: 2
Author(s): Oliver Henschel, Keith E. Gipson and Angelique Bordey
Affiliation:
Keywords: GABA, anesthesia, epilepsy, neurogenesis, glutamate, proliferation, apoptosis, synaptic
Abstract: GABA, acting via GABAA receptors, is well-accepted as the main inhibitory neurotransmitter of the mature brain, where it dampens neuronal excitability. The receptors properties have been studied extensively, yielding important information about its structure, pharmacology, and regulation that are summarized in this review. Several GABAergic drugs have been commonly used as anesthetics, sedatives, and anticonvulsants for decades. However, findings that GABA has critical functions in brain development, in particular during the late embryonic and neonatal period, raise worthwhile questions regarding the side effects of GABAergic drugs that may lead to long-term cognitive deficits. Here, we will review some of these drugs in parallel with the control of CNS development that GABA exerts via activation of GABAA receptors. This review aims to provide a basic science and clinical perspective on the function of GABA and related pharmaceuticals acting at GABAA receptors.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Henschel Oliver, Gipson E. Keith and Bordey Angelique, GABAA Receptors, Anesthetics and Anticonvulsants in Brain Development, CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets 2008; 7 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152708784083812
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152708784083812 |
Print ISSN 1871-5273 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1996-3181 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Trends and perspectives in the rational management of CNS disorders
Central nervous system (CNS) diseases enforce a significant global health burden, driving ongoing efforts to improve our understanding and effectiveness of therapy. This issue investigates current advances in the discipline, focusing on the understanding as well as therapeutic handling of various CNS diseases. The issue covers a variety of diseases, ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Food Selectivity, Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Urine Organic Acids in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Study
Current Nutrition & Food Science Antiepileptic Drugs for Preventing Seizures in Patients with Chronic Subdural Hematoma
Current Pharmaceutical Design Development and Optimization of Controlled Porosity Osmotic Tablets of Lamotrigine Solid Dispersion
Recent Patents on Drug Delivery & Formulation Zebrafish Model in Drug Safety Assessment
Current Pharmaceutical Design Plant Troponoids: Chemistry, Biological Activity, and Biosynthesis
Current Medicinal Chemistry Neonatal Brain Hemorrhage (NBH) of Prematurity: Translational Mechanisms of the Vascular-Neural Network
Current Medicinal Chemistry An Update on Drug Interactions with the Herbal Medicine Ginkgo biloba
Current Drug Metabolism Research Toward Potassium Channels on Tumor Progression
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry IBD Modern Concepts, Nano Drug Delivery and Patents: An Update
Recent Patents on Nanomedicine Subject Index to Volume 4
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Possible Exploitation of Non-Neuronal and Non-Chemical Synaptic Signalling Pathways in Epilepsy Therapy
Current Signal Transduction Therapy The Orexin System: A Potential Player in the Pathophysiology of Absence Epilepsy
Current Neuropharmacology Recent Developments in the Treatment of Alcoholic Chronic Pancreatitis
Current Drug Abuse Reviews The Use of Antibody Engineering to Create Novel Drugs that Target N-methyl-D-Aspartate Receptors
Current Drug Targets Evaluation of Pharmacological Treatment Strategies in Traumatic Brain Injury
Current Pharmaceutical Design Rational Understanding of Nicotinic Receptors Drug Binding
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Vascular Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Failure in the Pathobiology of Alzheimer’s Disease: A New Approach to Therapy
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Osteoporotic Fracture Healing: Potential Use of Medicinal Plants from the Tropics
Current Drug Targets Pharmacological Histone Deacetylation Distinguishes Transcriptional Regulators
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Preparation and Development of Oral Controlled Release w/o/w Multiple Emulsion of Carbamazepine
Drug Delivery Letters