An Introductory Lesson to GABA ( γ - Aminobutyric acid)

1. An Introductory Lesson to GABA (γ-Aminobutyric acid) A highly-simplified guide to understanding the body’s chief inhibitory neurotransmitter Fig. 1 (Left): The benzodiazepine class of anti-anxiety/sleep medications work primarily through releasing large amounts of GABA which slow down activity within the CNS.

2. What is GABA? • GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter of the mammalian central nervous system; • As such; its role is to regulate the activity of the nervous system by blocking communication signals between neurons. • Inhibition of neuronal signaling is a critical part of the brain’s homeostatic processes, providing a sort of “brake pedal” for the brain to slow itself down with.

3. Why do we need GABA? • Besides providing the nervous system with the ability to calm excessive signaling activity in the brain and musculature… • Drugs which artificially release relatively large quantities of GABA are used as a mainstay pharmacological mechanism of action in modern medicine, being crucial to major treatments for; • Termination and prevention of seizures • Severe,acuteanxiety • Short-term relief for sleep disorders • Inducing general anesthesia when combined with certain opioid analgesics

4. How does GABA work? • GABA molecules bind to specific GABA receptor sites within the external membrane of neurons in order to create a ligand-receptor complex which effectively blocks the neuron’s ability to communicate with the rest of the nervous system. • When binding to some other kinds of atypical receptor sites, however; GABA is thought to produce an excitatory effect.

5. Diagrams of GABA Molecules Fig. 2 (Left): Drugs which cause the release of GABA in large amounts typically produce anti-convulsive, anti-anxiety, and other sedating effects.

6. Diagram of GABA Receptor