Biomaterial Database

Behavioral effects of GABA agonists in relation to anxiety and benzodiazepine action. 1987

R A Shephard

A considerable body of biochemical and neurophysiological evidence implicates GABA in anxiety and in benzodiazepine action. The present article surveys the behavioral effects of GABA agonists and their interactions with drugs acting at the benzodiazepine receptor in animal anxiety paradigms. Certain GABA agonists, notably valproate, simulate many behavioral actions of benzodiazepines. Moreover, several behavioral studies of the interaction of GABA agonists with benzodiazepines support the hypothesis of a benzodiazepine receptor complex with one or more GABA, benzodiazepine and probably other binding sites. However, there are also a number of anomalous findings of GABA agonist action alone and in combination with benzodiazepines. It is argued that these paradoxical results can better be accounted for in terms of the receptor complex and the distribution of the drugs, rather than by suggesting that the anxiolytic actions of benzodiazepines are not mediated by GABA systems. The potential clinical usefulness of GABA agonists in anxiety is commented upon.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011963	Receptors, GABA-A	Cell surface proteins which bind GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID and contain an integral membrane chloride channel. Each receptor is assembled as a pentamer from a pool of at least 19 different possible subunits. The receptors belong to a superfamily that share a common CYSTEINE loop.	Benzodiazepine-Gaba Receptors,GABA-A Receptors,Receptors, Benzodiazepine,Receptors, Benzodiazepine-GABA,Receptors, Diazepam,Receptors, GABA-Benzodiazepine,Receptors, Muscimol,Benzodiazepine Receptor,Benzodiazepine Receptors,Benzodiazepine-GABA Receptor,Diazepam Receptor,Diazepam Receptors,GABA(A) Receptor,GABA-A Receptor,GABA-A Receptor alpha Subunit,GABA-A Receptor beta Subunit,GABA-A Receptor delta Subunit,GABA-A Receptor epsilon Subunit,GABA-A Receptor gamma Subunit,GABA-A Receptor rho Subunit,GABA-Benzodiazepine Receptor,GABA-Benzodiazepine Receptors,Muscimol Receptor,Muscimol Receptors,delta Subunit, GABA-A Receptor,epsilon Subunit, GABA-A Receptor,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Subtype A Receptors,Benzodiazepine GABA Receptor,Benzodiazepine Gaba Receptors,GABA A Receptor,GABA A Receptor alpha Subunit,GABA A Receptor beta Subunit,GABA A Receptor delta Subunit,GABA A Receptor epsilon Subunit,GABA A Receptor gamma Subunit,GABA A Receptor rho Subunit,GABA A Receptors,GABA Benzodiazepine Receptor,GABA Benzodiazepine Receptors,Receptor, Benzodiazepine,Receptor, Benzodiazepine-GABA,Receptor, Diazepam,Receptor, GABA-A,Receptor, GABA-Benzodiazepine,Receptor, Muscimol,Receptors, Benzodiazepine GABA,Receptors, GABA A,Receptors, GABA Benzodiazepine,delta Subunit, GABA A Receptor,epsilon Subunit, GABA A Receptor,gamma Aminobutyric Acid Subtype A Receptors
D005680	gamma-Aminobutyric Acid	The most common inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.	4-Aminobutyric Acid,GABA,4-Aminobutanoic Acid,Aminalon,Aminalone,Gammalon,Lithium GABA,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Calcium Salt (2:1),gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Hydrochloride,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Monolithium Salt,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Monosodium Salt,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Zinc Salt (2:1),4 Aminobutanoic Acid,4 Aminobutyric Acid,Acid, Hydrochloride gamma-Aminobutyric,GABA, Lithium,Hydrochloride gamma-Aminobutyric Acid,gamma Aminobutyric Acid,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Hydrochloride,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Monolithium Salt,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Monosodium Salt
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001007	Anxiety	Feelings or emotions of dread, apprehension, and impending disaster but not disabling as with ANXIETY DISORDERS.	Angst,Anxiousness,Hypervigilance,Nervousness,Social Anxiety,Anxieties, Social,Anxiety, Social,Social Anxieties
D001522	Behavior, Animal	The observable response an animal makes to any situation.	Autotomy Animal,Animal Behavior,Animal Behaviors
D001569	Benzodiazepines	A group of two-ring heterocyclic compounds consisting of a benzene ring fused to a diazepine ring.	Benzodiazepine,Benzodiazepine Compounds
D014151	Anti-Anxiety Agents	Agents that alleviate ANXIETY, tension, and ANXIETY DISORDERS, promote sedation, and have a calming effect without affecting clarity of consciousness or neurologic conditions. ADRENERGIC BETA-ANTAGONISTS are commonly used in the symptomatic treatment of anxiety but are not included here.	Anti-Anxiety Agent,Anti-Anxiety Drug,Anxiolytic,Anxiolytic Agent,Anxiolytic Agents,Tranquilizing Agents, Minor,Anti-Anxiety Drugs,Anti-Anxiety Effect,Anti-Anxiety Effects,Antianxiety Effect,Antianxiety Effects,Anxiolytic Effect,Anxiolytic Effects,Anxiolytics,Tranquillizing Agents, Minor,Agent, Anti-Anxiety,Agent, Anxiolytic,Agents, Anti-Anxiety,Agents, Anxiolytic,Agents, Minor Tranquilizing,Agents, Minor Tranquillizing,Anti Anxiety Agent,Anti Anxiety Agents,Anti Anxiety Drug,Anti Anxiety Drugs,Anti Anxiety Effect,Anti Anxiety Effects,Drug, Anti-Anxiety,Drugs, Anti-Anxiety,Effect, Anti-Anxiety,Effect, Antianxiety,Effect, Anxiolytic,Effects, Anti-Anxiety,Effects, Antianxiety,Effects, Anxiolytic,Minor Tranquilizing Agents,Minor Tranquillizing Agents