title: GABA(A) receptor subtypes underlying general anesthesia.
abstract: General anesthetics produce a constellation of behavioral responses and widespread neurodepression. Recent studies have implicated the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) subtype A receptor as a primary anesthetic target. During the past decade, considerable progress has been made in dissecting the behavioral effects of anesthetics according to the subunit composition of GABA(A) receptors. In this review, we describe how particular GABA(A) receptor subtypes expressed in different brain regions are critical for the expression of behavioral endpoints, such as amnesia, sedation, and hypnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8.
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Bonin
authors.forename: Beverley A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Orser
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A