In:
CNS Spectrums, Cambridge University Press (CUP), Vol. 10, No. 1 ( 2005-01), p. 21-27
Abstract:
Drugs modulating γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transmission via the benzodiazepine (BZ) site on the γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA A ) receptor have been in widespread use for more than 40 years to treat anxiety, epilepsy, and sleep disorders. These drugs have been shown to be safe, well tolerated, and effective although the mechanism by they produce a myriad of pharmacologic effects remains elusive. In recent years it has been discovered that, although the GABA A receptor is widely distributed in the brain, the substructure and composition of the receptor differs from between brain regions. Termed “GABA A receptor subtypes” their discovery leads to speculation that different subtypes may mediate specific effects of BZs such as anxiety or sedation. The phenotypic analysis of transgenic knock-in and knock-out mice in which particular GABA A receptors were rendered insensitive to the effects of BZ while others were unaffected confirmed this speculation. Subsequently, subtype-specific GABA A ligands were developed that, for example, retained the anxiolytic effects of BZs but were devoid of their sedative effects. Therefore, it may be possible to develop effective anxiolytic compounds that have a much reduced side-effect profile compared with existing drugs.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1092-8529
,
2165-6509
DOI:
10.1017/S1092852900009871
Language:
English
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Publication Date:
2005
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2149753-9
