title: GABA-transaminase in brain and blood platelets: basic and clinical aspects.
abstract: Several lines of evidence suggest that the major inhibitory neuro-transmitter, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is involved, both directly and indirectly, in the pathogenesis of certain neurological and psychiatric disorders. The main enzyme responsible for GABA catabolism is gamma-aminobutyrate aminotransferase (GABA-T). Inhibition of this enzyme produces a considerable elevation of brain GABA concentrations, and such elevation has been correlated with many pharmacological effects. There seems to be that, as is discussed below, GABA-T activity in the brain and/or blood platelets is related to some neuro-psychiatric disorders such as alcoholism, epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease. GABA-T has been identified in the blood platelets with similar characteristics to those of brain GABA-T. In this way, studies on GABA-T activity in neuro-psychiatric disorders could be performed to understand, diagnosis and treat GABA-related disorders of the central nervous system (CNS).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University for Medical Sciences, Tripoli, Libya.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Sherif
mesh_terms: D000612:4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase / Q000032:analysis*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000201:enzymology; D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000201:enzymology*; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D002415:Cats; D004285:Dogs; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000612:4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase