Possible Interaction: Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid and Serotonin Agents

“ gamma-Amino butyric (GABA) critically influences serotonergic (5-HT) neurons in the raphé and extra-raphé of the medulla oblongata.”

“This inhibition of serotonergic neurons is brought about by the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ -aminobutyric acid ( GABA).”

“CONCLUSIONS Ga ma-aminobutyric acid-ergic deficits mi ght increase the vulnerability to the psychotomimetic and perceptual altering effects of ser otonergic agents. ”

“Since GABA closely interacts with the dopaminergic, serotonergic and cholinergic neurotransmitter systems, we investigated GAD67+/GFP and GAD67+/+ mice for morphological markers of the latter systems and found increased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-IR fiber densities in CA1 of dorsal hippocampus.”

“This removes the tonic inhibition of GABA on serotonergic neurons in the RVM, and activation of these serotonergic neurons inhibits pain.”

“In these regions, serotonergic inputs increase GABA release through 5-HT3 receptors, the phenomenon being retrogradely controlled by cannabinoid neurotransmission.”

“In addition, GABA might contribute to the induction and maintenance of REM sleep by inhibiting serotonergic and GABAergic neurons in the vRPO.”

“In HS rats, the serotonergic lesion significantly disinhibited rat behavior controlled by fear, enhanced c-Fos expression in the dorsomedial prefrontal area, and increased the concentration of GABA in the basolateral amygdala, measured in vivo after the testing session of the conditioned fear test.”

“The results support the notion that gamma-aminobutyric acid is a strong modulator of dorsal raphe nucleus serotonergic neurons, and that this modulation is important in the regulation of slow wave sleep, rapid eye movement sleep and waking.”

“GABAergic transmission is critical in these nuclei and serotonergic inputs from dorsal raphe nuclei also significantly regulate GABA release.”