L18 antixoyltic Flashcards
optogenetic and pharmacogenetic tools,
together with novel imaging techniques
* visualisation and functional analysis of
cellular networks
optogenetics
channelrhodopsin-2 (a light-gated ion channel)
electrophysiology
- glutamatergic and GABAergic
anxiogenic pathway
glutamatergic - increase anxiety
anxiolytic pathway -
GABAergic - decrease anxiety
Amygdala and BNST (bed nucleus of the stria terminalis) both have which pathways
- BLA-vHC - anxiogenic
- BLA-CEA - anxiolytic
- anxiogenic pathway - glutamatergic
- anxiolytic pathway - GABAergic
Tests used in anxiolytic drug discovery
- open field test
- elevated plus maze
- light/dark box
Approach-avoidance conflict tests
generate a conflict between a drive to approach novel areas and to avoid potential threat simultaneously
Measuring anxiety in animals (Measure behavioural and physiological effects in experimental animals)
- behavioural inhibition, e.g., immobility or suppression of a behavioural response
GABA
- g-aminobutyric acid.
- the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain
GABA(A) receptor
- native: two a subunits, two b subunits and one subunit of a third type (e.g., g)
- most abundant: alpha-1 beta-2 gamma-2
Benzodiazepines can work on GABA receptors w/o GABA (t/f)
False
benzodiazepines as positive allosteric modulator (PAM)
- binding site at the α/γ interface
- affinity for GABA and the frequency of channel opening ↑
Benzodiazepines and efficacy and potentiation
No effect on efficacy but increases potentiation
If GABA receptor has a1/a2/a3/a5 subunits
Sensitive to benzodiazepines
If GABA receptor has a4/a6 subunits
Insensitive to Benzodiazepine
Why are some GABA receptors insensitive to Benzodiazepine
- histidine at position 101 (α1 numbering) is crucial for the action of benzodiazepines
- introduction of point mutation (histidine to arginine, H to R)