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Muscarinic M1, M3, Nicotinic,GABAA and GABAB Receptor ...

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34<br />

Literature Review<br />

<strong>GABAB</strong>-mediated responses could be measured in either mice (Prosser et al.,<br />

2001; Schuler et al., 2001).<br />

<strong>GABAB</strong> receptors play an important role in maintaining excitatory–<br />

inhibitory balance in brain <strong>and</strong> alterations can lead to seizures (Hossein et al.,<br />

2008). <strong>GABAB</strong> receptors, the metabotropic receptors for GABA, are G protein-<br />

coupled receptors (GPCR) which regulate neuronal excitability both pre <strong>and</strong><br />

postsynaptically. The action of GABA at presynaptic <strong>GABAB</strong> receptors is to<br />

reduce Ca 2+ influx <strong>and</strong> thus inhibit neurotransmitter release (Takahashi et al.,<br />

1998). These receptors exist on GABAergic terminals (autoreceptors), or on<br />

terminals arising from cells containing other neurotransmitters, such as glutamate<br />

(heteroreceptors). Postsynaptically, <strong>GABAB</strong> receptors are responsible for the<br />

generation of the late inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP), via the opening of<br />

K + channels <strong>and</strong> inhibit adenylate cyclase (Bettler et al., 1998). Abnormality in<br />

either of these functions could have consequences for the generation <strong>and</strong>/or<br />

prevention of epileptic seizures. Multiple laboratories have demonstrated altered<br />

expression of <strong>GABAB</strong>R1 <strong>and</strong> <strong>GABAB</strong>R2 in animal models for seizure disorders<br />

(Princivalle et al., 2003; Straessle et al., 2003). Han et al. (2006) found that as a<br />

result of multiple seizures, there was a long-term decrease in <strong>GABAB</strong>R1 (15 days)<br />

<strong>and</strong> <strong>GABAB</strong>R2 (30 days) expression in rat hippocampus. Taken together, these<br />

animal studies suggest that the changes in the number <strong>GABAB</strong> receptors lead to<br />

epilepsy, due to changes in transmitter release (presynaptic) <strong>and</strong> inhibition<br />

(postsynaptic). Accordingly, GABA neurons have been alternately proposed to be<br />

highly vulnerable or relatively invulnerable after insults known to cause epilepsy<br />

(Ribak et al., 1979; Sloviter et al., 1987) <strong>and</strong> GABA-mediated inhibition is<br />

reportedly decreased, in animal models of epilepsy (Dalby et al., 2001).<br />

GABAC <strong>Receptor</strong>s<br />

GABAC receptors, which are a subfamily of <strong>GABAA</strong> receptors, are<br />

members of the Cys-loop superfamily of lig<strong>and</strong>-gated ion channels (LGICs), an

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