GABA, a forgotten gliotransmitter.
The amino acid gamma-aminobutiric acid (GABA) is a major inhibitory transmitter in the vertebrate central nervous system (CNS) where it can be released by neurons and by glial cells. Neuronal GABAergic signaling is well characterized: the mechanisms of GABA release, the receptors it targets and the functional consequences of their activation have been extensively studied. In contrast, the corresponding features of glial GABAergic signaling have attracted less attention. In this review, we first discuss evidence from the literature for GABA accumulation, production and release by glial cells. We then review the results of recent experiments that point toward functional roles of GABA as a "gliotransmitter".
Angulo
María Cecilia
MC
Inserm U603, Paris, France; CNRS UMR 8154, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France.
Le Meur
Karim
K
Kozlov
Andrei S
AS
Charpak
Serge
S
Audinat
Etienne
E
D000818:Animals; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid