Advances in the Diversity of GABAergic Neurons

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 January 2024) | Viewed by 5931

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Animal Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran 1417466191, Iran
Interests: cellular and molecular neurobiology

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Co-Guest Editor
Department of Animal Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran 1417466191, Iran
Interests: neuroscience; ischemic stroke; behavioral neuroscience

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A heterogeneously diverse population of GABAergic presynaptic neurons release GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) as a primary inhibitory neurotransmitter on postsynaptic inhibitory/excitatory neurons in the central nervous system (CNS). The signaling pathways of GABAA/GABAB receptors prevent the neuronal action potentials (APs) firing, modulate the AP frequency, and modify synaptic plasticity. GABAergic interneurons contribute to the management of synchronized network activity in the cortical areas. GABAergic synaptic inhibition is also suggested to produce a rebound excitation to encode and process inhibitory signals. This Special Issue of Brain Sciences aims to illustrate how recent advances in the field have revealed the critical role of GABAergic projection neurons in network activity patterns unidirectionally or bidirectionally. Authors are invited to submit original research and reviews that address a broad range of topics related to the morphological and neurochemical diversity of GABAergic networks and the variable signaling mechanism of GABA receptors in CNS function and disorders.

Prof. Dr. Ameneh Rezayof
Dr. Maryam Sardari
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • GABAergic neuronal diversity
  • interneurons
  • GABA receptors
  • signaling pathways
  • GABAergic networks
  • GABAergic synchronization

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

35 pages, 2969 KiB  
Review
Shared Mechanisms of GABAergic and Opioidergic Transmission Regulate Corticolimbic Reward Systems and Cognitive Aspects of Motivational Behaviors
by Oveis Hosseinzadeh Sahafi, Maryam Sardari, Sakineh Alijanpour and Ameneh Rezayof
Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 815; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050815 - 17 May 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5424
Abstract
The functional interplay between the corticolimbic GABAergic and opioidergic systems plays a crucial role in regulating the reward system and cognitive aspects of motivational behaviors leading to the development of addictive behaviors and disorders. This review provides a summary of the shared mechanisms [...] Read more.
The functional interplay between the corticolimbic GABAergic and opioidergic systems plays a crucial role in regulating the reward system and cognitive aspects of motivational behaviors leading to the development of addictive behaviors and disorders. This review provides a summary of the shared mechanisms of GABAergic and opioidergic transmission, which modulate the activity of dopaminergic neurons located in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the central hub of the reward mechanisms. This review comprehensively covers the neuroanatomical and neurobiological aspects of corticolimbic inhibitory neurons that express opioid receptors, which act as modulators of corticolimbic GABAergic transmission. The presence of opioid and GABA receptors on the same neurons allows for the modulation of the activity of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area, which plays a key role in the reward mechanisms of the brain. This colocalization of receptors and their immunochemical markers can provide a comprehensive understanding for clinicians and researchers, revealing the neuronal circuits that contribute to the reward system. Moreover, this review highlights the importance of GABAergic transmission-induced neuroplasticity under the modulation of opioid receptors. It discusses their interactive role in reinforcement learning, network oscillation, aversive behaviors, and local feedback or feedforward inhibitions in reward mechanisms. Understanding the shared mechanisms of these systems may lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches for addiction, reward-related disorders, and drug-induced cognitive impairment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diversity of GABAergic Neurons)
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