gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) plays important roles in the central nervous system, acting as a neurotransmitter on both ionotropic ligand-gated Cl(-)-channels, and metabotropic G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). These two types of receptors called GABA(A) (and C) and GABA(B) are the targets of major therapeutic drugs such as the anxiolytic benzodiazepines, and antispastic drug baclofen (lior...

BACKGROUND Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe problem among soldiers with combating experience difficult to treat. The pathogenesis is still not fully understood at the psychological level. Therefore, genetic research became a focus of interest. The identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may help to predict, which persons are at high risk to develop PTSD as a sta...

Although Ziziphus jujuba Mill (jujube) is used in folk medicine for hypnotic sedative, anxiolytic, and many other purposes, to date, only a few studies have revealed its sleep-promoting effects related mechanisms. Currently, drugs the treatment of sleep disorders various side effects, so it essential develop safe natural materials. Therefore, we evaluated sleep-enhancing activity mechanism acti...

Experimental absence seizures are associated with perturbations in the presynaptic release of GABA and glutamate within thalamocortical circuitry. The release of both glutamate and GABA is regulated by group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). Therefore, we examined the susceptibility of mice lacking the mGluR4 subtype of mGluR (mGluR4(-/-)) versus their wild-type controls (mGluR4(+/...

The present study examined synaptic potentials of neurons in inferior colliculus (IC) cortex slice and the roles of GABA and glutamate receptors in generating these potentials. Multipolar (82%) and elongated (18%) cells were observed with intracellular biocytin staining. Electrical stimulation of the IC commissure (CoIC) elicited only inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) (10% of cells), o...

In vertebrates, locomotion can be initiated by stimulation of the diencephalic locomotor region (DLR). Little is known of the different forebrain regions that provide input to the neurons in DLR. In the lamprey it had been shown previously that DLR provides monosynaptic input to reticulospinal neurons, which in turn elicit rhythmic ventral root activity at the spinal level. To show that actual ...

Mu-opioid receptor (MOR) agonists profoundly influence digestive and other autonomic functions by modulating neurons in nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV). Whole cell recordings were made from NTS and DMV neurons in brain stem slices from rats and transgenic mice that expressed enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the control of a GAD67 promo...

Activation of the amygdala in rats produces cardiovascular changes that include increases in heart rate and arterial pressure as well as behavioral changes characteristic of emotional arousal. The objective of the present study was to examine the interaction of GABA and excitatory amino acid (EAA) receptors in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) in regulating cardiovascular function. Microinjection ...

Serotonin (5-HT)3 receptors are the only ligand-gated ion channel of the 5-HT receptors family. They are present both in the peripheral and central nervous system and are localized in several areas involved in mood regulation (e.g., hippocampus or prefrontal cortex). Moreover, they are involved in regulation of neurotransmitter systems implicated in the pathophysiology of major depression (e.g....

A) Representative recording samples showing the membrane potential recorded from POMC neurons following treatment with leptin (leptin; 100nM) at 2.5 mM glucose in the absence (left) or presence (right) of the GABA A receptor antagonist picrotoxin (100 M) without glutamatergic influences. Leptin reduced POMC neuronal activity in the absence of the GABA A receptor antagonist, whereas POMC neuron...