GABAs

GABAs is a term used to refer to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors and related signaling components that respond to the neurotransmitter GABA. GABA is the principal inhibitory transmitter in the mammalian central nervous system, crucial for limiting neuronal excitation and shaping network activity.

GABA receptors are traditionally divided into three main types. GABA-A receptors are ligand-gated chloride channels that produce fast postsynaptic inhibition by allowing chloride ions to enter the neuron. GABA-B receptors are G protein–coupled receptors that generate slower, longer-lasting inhibition through second-messenger signaling, typically reducing neuronal excitability. GABA-C receptors, now commonly referred to as GABA-A rho, form chloride channels with distinct pharmacology and are most prominent in the retina. Together, these receptors regulate synaptic inhibition across CNS circuits and influence processes such as sleep, anxiety, and motor control.

Biochemically, GABA is synthesized from glutamate by glutamate decarboxylase (GAD65 and GAD67) and released into the synaptic cleft. Termination of GABA signaling occurs mainly through reuptake into neurons and glia via GABA transporters (GAT-1 being the primary brain transporter). Once inside cells, GABA can be degraded by GABA transaminase (GABA-T) to succinic semialdehyde.

Dysregulation of GABA signaling is linked to several neurological and psychiatric conditions, including epilepsy, anxiety disorders, insomnia, and some forms of neuropathic pain. Pharmacological agents that enhance GABAergic transmission, such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and certain anticonvulsants, are widely used in clinical practice to modulate inhibitory signaling.