Sympathetic neurons have the capability to segregate their neurotransmitters (NTs) and co-transmitters to separate varicosities of single axons; furthermore, in culture, these neurons can even segregate classical transmitters. In vivo sympathetic neurons employ acetylcholine (ACh) and other classical NTs such as gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). Herein, we explore whether these neurons in vivo se...

4'-Ethynyl-4-n-[2,3-3H2]propylbicycloorthobenzoate ([3H]EBOB) binding to the GABAA receptor complex was characterized autoradiographically in rat brain and then its binding in human brain was investigated. [3H]EBOB binding was saturable, specific and identified a single population of binding sites. The Kd obtained from saturation studies was 4.59 nM. Picrotoxin produced dose-dependent inhibitio...

-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been proposed to function as a paracrine signaling molecule in islets of Langerhans. We have shown that rat -cells release GABA by Ca -dependent exocytosis of synaptic-like microvesicles. Here we demonstrate that GABA thus released can diffuse over sufficient distances within the islet interstitium to activate GABAA receptors in neighboring cells. Confocal immunocy...

Orexin can increase neuronal excitability and induce epileptic activity. In this study, the effects of suvorexant (orexin receptor antagonist) on pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) and maximal electroshock (MES)-induced seizure were investigated. Mice were divided into 5 groups of six animals each including normal saline (10 ml/kg), diazepam (2 mg/kg) and suvorexant (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) groups. In PTZ ...

Orexin can increase neuronal excitability and induce epileptic activity. In this study, the effects of suvorexant (orexin receptor antagonist) on pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) and maximal electroshock (MES)-induced seizure were investigated. Mice were divided into 5 groups of six animals each including normal saline (10 ml/kg), diazepam (2 mg/kg) and suvorexant (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) groups. In PTZ ...

The present study examined the involvement of the GABAA, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), nicotinic acetylcholine, and mu-opioid receptor systems in the transduction of the discriminative stimulus effects of the abused inhalant 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCE). Sixteen B6SJLF1/J mice were trained to discriminate 10 min of exposure to 12,000-ppm inhaled TCE vapor from air. Substitution and antagonism tes...

Shilajit, a medicine herb commonly used in Ayurveda, has been reported to contain at least 85 minerals in ionic form that act on a variety of chemical, biological, and physical stressors. The substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons of the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc) are involved in orofacial nociceptive processing. Shilajit has been reported to be an injury and muscular pain reliever but the...

Introduction Licorice could exhibit beneficial effect in the management of insomnia by regulating key modulators such as GABA and serotonin, we therefore aimed to study potentail hypnotic licorice extract, glycyrrhizin (GCZ), on underlying mechanisms. Material methods Mice were randomly grouped a Control group, GCZ (low) (high) group DZP with 8 mice each group. Sleep latency, sleep duration loc...

Rhythmic oscillations throughout the cortex are observed during physiological and pathological states of the brain. The thalamus generates sleep spindle oscillations and spike-wave discharges characteristic of absence epilepsy. Much has been learned regarding the mechanisms underlying these oscillations from in vitro brain slice preparations. One widely used model to understand the epileptiform...

Rearing is an exploratory behavior induced by novelty, such as exposure to an open field. Stimulation of certain brain regions, including the hippocampus, induces both rearing and clonic convulsions. Brain excitability is controlled by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) inhibitory neurotransmission through its ionotropic GABAA/allosteric benzodiazepine site. Drugs that decrease GABAA receptor fast ...