Behavioral Neuroscience, lecture on GABA inhibition
Escape - Crayfish
IX. g-aminobutyric Acid (GABA)
A. NH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-COOH
1. formed from Glu by L-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)
a. GABA shunt: bypass from Kreb's to provide glutamate
b. GABA catabolized by GABA-T
(GABA transaminase = a-ketoglutarate aminotransferase)
i. NH3 to glutamate synthesis
2. inhibitory amino acid transmitter = inhibits firing of neurons
B. Receptors - 2 major types
1. GABAA = ligand-gated Cl- channel
a. postsynaptic inhibition: hyperpolarizing
postsynaptic membrane
i. influx of Cl-
b. GABAA on GABA neurons is functionally
presynaptic inhibition
c. 5 subunits - 2a + 2b + 1g (usually)
i. a binds benzodiazepines (valium)
ii. b binds GABA
iii. other sites near membrane bind barbiturates, anesthetics,
alcohols and H2O, neuroactive steroids; and
inside bind convulsants and picrotoxin
iv. extraordinary structural diversity: a1-6, b1-4, g1-3, d, e, q, r1-2
(1) yields functional diversity
v. superfamily of ligand gated channels including
nicotinic, 5-HT3, NMDA, AMPA, KA & glycine-R
b. GABAB (fewer)
i. often presynaptic
1) G K+ ® open K+ or close Ca++ channels
(a) autoreceptors inhibit GABA neurons
by hyperpolarization
2) also Gi® X AC
ii. sometimes postsynaptic
1) phospholipase A2 ® cAMP
c. GABAC in retina
i. more sensitive Cl- channel
d. GABA transporter (GABAT)
C. GABA projections in vertebrates
1. GABA interneurons in many brain regions
a. intrinsic neurons in cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum,
suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), olfactory bulb and retina...
2. projections from hypothalamus to cerebral cortex
a. direct pathway for limbic, emotional, and visceral
information to reach the cortex
b. IGL to SCN shell neurons colocalize NPY
3. projections of striatum to substantia nigra
a. regulate coordination of movement
D. Crayfish GABA projections
1. MGs, LGs, and SIs have GABA terminals
a. regulate coordination of movement
i. through recurrent, Sensory, SI, MoG, and FF inihibition