GABA- receptors, description

Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors are located on the postsynaptic membranes of inhibitory synapses of both vertebrates and insects and contain within their membrane-spanning structure a chloride ion channel. They are found in both vertebrate brains and invertebrate cerebral ganglia (sometimes referred to as brains) as well as in insect muscles. Particular attention has been given to one form of this receptor—the GABA-A receptor—as a target for novel insecticides (Eldefrawi and Eldefrawi 1990). It is found both in insect muscle and vertebrate brain. The remainder of this description will be restricted to this form. 

As we move forward with our discussion, we ll devote a section of this chapter to each of the key neurotransmitter systems that psychotropic medications interact with. We will discuss the following systems norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, GABA, acetylcholine, and histamine. Within each of the sections is a description of the effects that can be anticipated when a medication enhances the activity of that transmitter (reuptake inhibitors or agonists), and the effects to expect when a medication interferes (receptor antagonists) with the activity of that same transmitter. We will then describe strategies that can be implemented to help minimize and/or manage these side effects. 

GABA and glutamate receptors are two classes of neurotransmitter receptors that are critically important to striatal function. Adequate description of these systems within the basal ganglia warrants a review that is beyond the scope of this chapter. Recent description of the distribution of the genes encoding the different subunits of both GABA and glutamate receptors are listed for reference. 

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