GABAergic pathways showing the effects of mania

GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS). GABAergic inhibition is seen at all levels of the CNS, including the hypothalamus, hippocampus, cerebral cortex and cerebellar cortex. As well as the large well-established GABA pathways, GABA interneurones are abundant in the brain, with 50% of the inhibitory synapses in the brain being GABA mediated. There is evidence that there is decreased GABA function in all GABAergic pathways in depressed and manic states.

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References

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Bloom FE. Neurohumoral transmission and the central nervous system. In: Goodman and Gilman’s the pharmacological basis of therapeutics, volume 1, 8th edition. Gilman et al. Singapore. McGraw-Hill Inc, 1992:244–268.

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