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Astrocytes as GABA-ergic and GABA-ceptive Cells

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Abstract

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is considered to be the major inhibitory neurotransmitter that is synthesized in and released from GABA-ergic neurons in the brain. However, recent studies have shown that not only neurons but astrocytes contain a considerable amount of GABA, which can be released and activate the receptors responsive to GABA. In addition, astrocytes are themselves responsive to GABA by expressing GABA receptors. These exciting new findings raise more questions about the origin of GABA, whether it is synthesized or taken up, and about the role of astrocytic GABA and GABA receptors. In this review, we propose several potential pathways for astrocytes to accumulate GABA and discuss the evidence for functional expression of GABA receptors in astrocytes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. WCI Center for Functional Connectomics, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 136-791, Korea

    Bo-Eun Yoon, Junsung Woo & C. Justin Lee

  2. Center for Neural Science, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 136-791, Korea

    Bo-Eun Yoon, Junsung Woo & C. Justin Lee

  3. Neuroscience Program, University of Science and Technology (UST), Taejon, 305-350, Korea

    Bo-Eun Yoon, Junsung Woo & C. Justin Lee

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  1. Bo-Eun Yoon
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  2. Junsung Woo
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Correspondence to C. Justin Lee.

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Special Issue: In Honor of Leif Hertz.

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Yoon, BE., Woo, J. & Justin Lee, C. Astrocytes as GABA-ergic and GABA-ceptive Cells. Neurochem Res 37, 2474–2479 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-012-0808-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-012-0808-z

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