Anxiety and depression: Mouse genetics and pharmacological approaches to the role of GABAA receptor subtypes.
Smith, Kiersten S. a,b; Rudolph, Uwe a,b,∗
[Review] Neuropharmacology. 62(1):54-62, January 2012.

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GABAA receptors mediate fast synaptic inhibitory neurotransmission throughout the central nervous system. Recent work indicates a role for GABAA receptors in physiologically modulating anxiety and depression levels. In this review, we summarize research that led to the identification of the essential role of GABAA receptors in counteracting trait anxiety and depression-related behaviors, and research aimed at identifying individual GABAA receptor subtypes involved in physiological and pharmacological modulation of emotions.

This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Anxiety and Depression'.

Highlights: [black star] GABAA receptors modulate anxiety- and depression-like behavior. [black star] The mouse genetic evidence for developmental regulation of anxiety- and depression-like behavior by GABAA receptors is discussed. [black star] Recent experiments points to a physiological antidepressant-like role for [alpha]2-containing GABAA receptors.

(C) 2012Elsevier, Inc.