GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian brain where it acts at GABA-A receptors, which are ligand-gated chloride channels. Chloride conductance of these channels can be modulated by agents such as benzodiazepines that bind to the GABA-A receptor. At least 16 distinct subunits of GABA-A receptors have been identified. Transcript variants utilizing three different alternative non-coding first exons have been described. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]
Forensic Context
A study in human post-mortem brain tissue demonstrated that the GABRA5 mRNA was significantly increased (1.7-fold) in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of individuals with alcohol dependence compared to controls, with no changes detected in the orbitofrontal or dorsolateral prefrontal cortex [Jin et al. DOI:10.3389/Fncel.2011.00030].