Gabapentin, marketed for the treatment of seizures and neuropathic pain, has been shown to increase in vivo GABA concentration in the brain of both rodents and humans. Gabapentin effects on glutamate are not known. Although gabapentin does not bind to GABA A or GABA B receptors, increased synthesis and reduced breakdown of GABA have been described . Potentiation of inhibitory GABA-ergic pathways seems unlikely to be responsible for its anti-allodynic effect because GABA receptor antagonists do not reduce this effect [ 8, 36 ]. In the present study, we examined whether gabapentin is an agonist at native GABA (B) receptors using a rat model of postoperative pain in vivo and periaqueductal gray (PAG) slices in vitro; PAG contains GABA (B) receptors, and their activation results in antinociception. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate (GLU) play crucial roles in the control of neuropathic pain through their actions within the central nervous system (CNS). These neurotransmitters separately activate two distinct classes of receptors: ionotropic and metabotropic. Gabapentin is a structural analog of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Its anticonvulsant, analgesic and anxiolytic properties suggest that it increases GABAergic inhibition; however, the molecular basis for these effects is unknown as gabapentin does not directly modify GABA type A (GABA A) receptor function, nor does it modify synaptic inhibition. In the present study, we examined whether gabapentin is an agonist at native GABA B receptors using a rat model of postoperative pain in vivo and periaqueductal gray (PAG) slices in vitro; PAG contains GABA B receptors, and their activation results in antinociception. This study suggested that the antiepileptic GABA analogue gabapentin (Neurontin) is an agonist at GABA(B) receptors expressing the GABA(B1a) but not the GABA(B1b) receptor subunit. The importance of this finding with respect to identifying novel GABA(B) receptor subunit specific agonists prompted us to repeat these experiments in our own [35S Gabapentin was designed as a GABA analog, and some studies have suggested that it modulates the action of the GABA synthetic enzyme, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and the glutamate synthesizing enzyme, branched-chain amino acid transaminase, resulting in increased GABA synthesis. 139 Gabapentin increases non-synaptic GABA responses from Research regarding gabapentin's effects on GABA and glutamate synthetic and metabolizing enzymes reveals a complex pattern of activity and provides an incomplete explanation for its anticonvulsant effects. GABA acts as a neurotransmitter and interacts with GABA receptors in the central nervous system, while gabapentin interacts with the α2δ subunit of the voltage-sensitive calcium channel. Both help reduce neuronal excitability, but the mechanisms are not fully understood. Gabapentin and pregabalin do not bind to GABA receptors despite their structural similarity but have a high affinity for the α2δ-1 subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs). 19 VGCCs are composed of multiple subunits: α 1, β, γ and α 2 δ. Despite its structural similarity to GABA, gabapentin does interact with GABA receptors in the CNS. Its mechanism of action is unknown, but may involve enhanced neuronal GABA synthesis. Although gabapentin is a GABA analogue, it does not bind to and modulate the GABA receptors nor does it affect GABA transport or metabolism. Gabapentin is a gabapentinoid, which acts as an inhibitor of the α2δ subunit-containing voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) that are linked to neurotransmitter release. Originally designed as analogs of GABA (Fig. 1), neither gabapentin nor pregabalin has any significant agonist‐like effect on GABA A or GABA B receptors, nor obvious effects on levels of GABA (Lanneau et al. 2001; Jensen et al. 2002). GABA is a naturally occurring neurotransmitter in the brain that inhibits or slows down nerve activity, helping to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. On the other hand, Gabapentin is a medication that is structurally similar to GABA but does not directly bind to GABA receptors. Background: Gabapentin is a structural analog of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Its anticonvulsant, analgesic and anxiolytic properties suggest that it increases GABAergic inhibition; however, the molecular basis for these effects is unknown as gabapentin does not directly modify GABA type A (GABA A) receptor function, nor does it modify synaptic inhibition. Although it is rapidly absorbed, readily crosses the blood–brain barrier and is orally active in several animal models of epilepsy, gabapentin neither binds to GABA A or GABA B receptors nor is Gabapentin is a structural analog of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Its anticonvulsant, analgesic and anxiolytic properties suggest that it increases GABAergic inhibition; however, the molecular basis for these effects is unknown as gabapentin does not directly modify GABA type A (GABA A) receptor function, nor does it modify synaptic inhibition. Gabapentin enhanced expression of δGABA A receptors and increased a tonic inhibitory conductance in neurons. This increased expression likely contributes to GABAergic effects as gabapentin caused ataxia and anxiolysis in wild-type mice but not δ subunit null-mutant mice. Gabapentin has no activity at GABAA or GABAB receptors of GABA uptake carriers of brain. Gabapentin interacts with a high-affinity binding site in brain membranes, which has recently been identified as an auxiliary subunit of voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels.
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