GABAA Rθ Background Information
Gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors mediate inhibitory neurotransmission in the mammalian central nervous system. The receptor exists as a pentameric ion channel composed by heteromeric combinations of alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, theta, or pi subunits. Only specific subunit combinations produce viable receptors, while others never translocate to the cell surface from the ER where they are synthesized, and subsequently degraded. The theta subunit forms a receptor in combination with alpha3 subunits in monoaminergic cell groups. These receptors, found especially in the septum, preoptic areas, hypothalamic nuclei, amygdala and thalamus, likely have unique pharmacological properties linked to their expression in this particular cell type and not cholinergic cell groups, and may play a role in opiate withdrawl symptoms.
