Localization of GABA Receptors

The localization and distribution of GABA_A receptors on nerve cell membranes play an important role in the regulation of nerve signal production and transmission. Researchers at Creative Bioarray are committed to developing a variety of advanced techniques to offer our clients GABA_A receptors localization services, providing useful information for drug development projects in neurological diseases.

Background

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is generally considered an important inhibitory neurotransmitter in the vertebrate brain. GABA receptors have three subtypes, including GABA_A receptors, GABA_B receptors, and GABA_C receptors. GABA_B receptors are metabotropic receptors, while GABA_A receptors and GABA_C receptors are ionotropic receptors that play key roles in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues.

GABA_A receptors belong to the ligand-gated channel superfamily, which can inhibit nerve excitability by mediating extracellular chloride influx. GABA_A receptors sensitive to bicuculline have abundant pharmacology. A large number of studies have shown that the imbalance of GABA_A receptor distribution at the cell membrane level is closely related to the occurrence of nervous system diseases, including a variety of neurodevelopmental and signal transduction diseases, such as schizophrenia, bipolar manic depression, and autism, and chronic nervous system diseases, such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia. In addition, GABA_A receptors are also important drug targets for central nervous system diseases. Therefore, the recognition and localization of GABA_A receptors play an important role in the development of drugs for nervous system diseases and have always been the focus of research at home and abroad.

Fig. 1 Representation of a GABAergic synapse depicting major elements of signal transduction. (Möhler, 2006)

Our Services

Our services include but are not limited to:

• Localization of GABA_A receptors in the basal ganglia
  We primarily use immunogold labeling techniques with excellent spatial resolution and ease of quantification to help our clients localize the GABA_A receptors at the subcellular level.
• Localization of GABA_A receptors in the striatum.
• Localization of GABA_A receptors in the globus pallidus (GPe).
• Localization of GABA_A receptors in the entopeduncular nucleus.
• Localization of GABA_A receptors in the substantia nigra.
• Localization of GABA_A receptors in the subthalamic nucleus.
• Localization of different ligand sites
  We provide our clients with services for the localization of GABA_A ligand sites by autoradiography, which is a versatile and powerful method to study not only the distribution of GABA_A receptors in the central nervous system but also their quantity, regulation, and modulation.
• Localization of GABA_A receptor binding site, including GABA binding site and convulsant binding site.
• Localization of benzodiazepine binding site subtypes.

Applications

Our GABA_A receptor localization service is suitable for use in multiple animal models for a wide range of studies.

• Mapping and the quantification of specific receptor subtypes
• Analysis of GABA_A receptors in various physiological and pathological conditions
• Study on the regulation of inhibitory ligand-gated channel in human pathological brain samples
• Precise dissection of the roles of the multiplicity of GABA_A receptor subtypes

Creative Bioarray has the capability to provide our clients with GABA_A receptor localization services in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Our professional technical support and scientific services help to enhance your understanding of the function of GABA_A receptor subtypes. If you are interested in our services, please contact us for more details.

Reference

1. Möhler, H. GABA_A receptor diversity and pharmacology. Cell and tissue research. 2006, 326(2): 505-516.