Abstract
In the immature brain, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is excitatory, and GABA-releasing synapses are formed before glutamatergic contacts in a wide range of species and structures. GABA becomes inhibitory by the delayed expression of a chloride exporter, leading to a negative shift in the reversal potential for choride ions. I propose that this mechanism provides a solution to the problem of how to excite developing neurons to promote growth and synapse formation while avoiding the potentially toxic effects of a mismatch between GABA-mediated inhibition and glutamatergic excitation. As key elements of this cascade are activity dependent, the formation of inhibition adds an element of nurture to the construction of cortical networks.
Keywords
GlutamatergicExcitatory postsynaptic potentialInhibitory postsynaptic potentialNeuroscienceChemistryGABAA receptorgamma-Aminobutyric acidSynapseBiologyCell biologyGlutamate receptorBiochemistryReceptor
MeSH Terms
AnimalsCell DifferentiationChloride ChannelsExcitatory Postsynaptic PotentialsGlutamic AcidHippocampusHumansNerve NetReceptorsGABAReceptorsGlutamateSynaptic Transmissiongamma-Aminobutyric Acid
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Publication Info
- Year
- 2002
- Type
- review
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 728-739
- Citations
- 2382
- Access
- Closed
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Cite This
Yehezkel Ben‐Ari
(2002).
Excitatory actions of gaba during development: the nature of the nurture.
Nature reviews. Neuroscience
, 3
(9)
, 728-739.
https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn920
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1038/nrn920
- PMID
- 12209121