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  • Synaptic inhibition and γ-aminobutyric acid in the mammalian central nervous system.

Synaptic inhibition and γ-aminobutyric acid in the mammalian central nervous system.

Proceedings of the Japan Academy. Series B, Physical and biological sciences (2013-04-12)
Kunihiko Obata
ABSTRACT

Signal transmission through synapses connecting two neurons is mediated by release of neurotransmitter from the presynaptic axon terminals and activation of its receptor at the postsynaptic neurons. γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), non-protein amino acid formed by decarboxylation of glutamic acid, is a principal neurotransmitter at inhibitory synapses of vertebrate and invertebrate nervous system. On one hand glutamic acid serves as a principal excitatory neurotransmitter. This article reviews GABA researches on; (1) synaptic inhibition by membrane hyperpolarization, (2) exclusive localization in inhibitory neurons, (3) release from inhibitory neurons, (4) excitatory action at developmental stage, (5) phenotype of GABA-deficient mouse produced by gene-targeting, (6) developmental adjustment of neural network and (7) neurological/psychiatric disorder. In the end, GABA functions in simple nervous system and plants, and non-amino acid neurotransmitters were supplemented.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
γ-Aminobutyric acid, ≥99%
Sigma-Aldrich
γ-Aminobutyric acid, BioXtra, ≥99%
Supelco
γ-Aminobutyric acid, analytical standard
Vigabatrin impurity D, European Pharmacopoeia (EP) Reference Standard