title: Behavioral functions of GABAA receptor subtypes--the Zurich experience.
abstract: GABAA receptors are the major inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors in the brain. They are heteropentamers that are typically classified according to their α subunits. By rendering each of the benzodiazepine-sensitive α subunits (α1, α2, α3, and α5) insensitive to modulation by classical benzodiazepines by His to Arg point mutations in knock-in mice, we were able to identify behavioral functions mediated by different GABAA receptor subtypes, which led to the development of novel therapeutic strategies. In this chapter, we provide a largely chronological overview on behavioral studies on GABAA receptor mutant mice at the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Zurich.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crestani
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetic Neuropharmacology, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Electronic address: urudolph@mclean.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rudolph
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D017354:Point Mutation; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D001569:Benzodiazepines
keywords: Benzodiazepines; GABA(A) receptor; Genetically modified mice