Neuro Forum Neuronal integration and the depolarizing effects of axonal GABAA receptors

Younts TJ, Makani S. Neuronal integration and the depolarizing effects of axonal GABAA receptors. J Neurophysiol 106: 2105–2107, 2011. First published August 3, 2011; doi:10.1152/jn.00328.2011.— Despite their presence throughout the central nervous system, the impact of axonally expressed gamma-amino-butyric acid type-A receptors (GABAARs) on neuronal signaling is just beginning to be understood. A recently published article (Pugh JR and Jahr CE, J Neurosci 31: 565–574, 2011) tackled this important issue by investigating GABAAR-mediated function in axons of cerebellar granule cells. The results of Pugh and Jahr indicate parallel fiber GABAARs enhance neurotransmitter release probability and boost axonal and somatic excitability.