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. 2001 Sep;1(1):1-5.
doi: 10.1046/j.1535-7597.2001.00009.x.

The GABA(A) Receptor: Subunit-Dependent Functions and Absence Seizures

C Guin-Ting Wong  1 , O Carter Snead 3rd
Affiliations

The GABA(A) Receptor: Subunit-Dependent Functions and Absence Seizures

C Guin-Ting Wong et al. Epilepsy Curr. 2001 Sep.

Abstract

GABA(A) receptors on thalamic relay and reticular (nRT) neurons play a critical role in thalamocortical mechanisms underlying absence seizures. Studies with absence seizure-prone rats and transgenic mice have taken advantage of differences in the subunit compositions of GABA(A) receptors in the two thalamic cell populations to clarify thalamocortical rhythm generating mechanisms and explain the antiabsence activity of benzodiazepines. The relevance of this work is highlighted by the recent finding of a mutation in the GABA(A) receptor gamma2 subunit in a family with childhood absence seizures.

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