Gaba--biochemistry And Cns Functions

In Less Than 30 Years After Its Discovery In The Brain, Y-aminobutyric Acid (gaba) Has Become Generally Accepted As Being One Of The Major Inhibitory Neurotransmitters Of The Vertebrate Central Nervous System. During The Past Few Years, Research On Mechanisms Associated With Central Gaba-ergic Systems Has Been Conducted At An Increasing Rate, And Therefore It Was Considered Necessary To Organize A Symposium On This Subject. Recently, Three Other Related Meetings Have Been Held: A Workshop In California In February 1975, Gaba In Nervous System Function, Edited By E. Roberts, T. N. Chase And D. B. Tower, And Published In 1976; A Nato Advanced Study Institute In Norway In August 1977, Amino Acids As Chemical Transmitters, Edited By F. Fonnum, And Published In 1978; And An Alfred Benzon Symposium In Copenhagen In May 1978, Gaba-neurotransmitters, Edited By P. Krogsgaard-larsen, J. Scheel-kruger And H. Kofod, And Published In 1979.^ The Present Volume Represents The Proceedings Of An International Symposium On Gaba - Biochemistry And Cns Functions, Held In The Palais Des Congres, Strasbourg, During July 24-25, 1978. The Book Is Divided Into Four Sections, The Articles Of Which Represent Reviews And/or New Findings On The Enzymology, Metabolism, Uptake, Release, Receptor-interaction And Behavioral Implications Of Central Gaba-ergic Systems. Biochemical, Physiological, Pharmacological And Morphological Approaches Are Discussed. The Use Of Enzymological, Metabolic, And Receptor-binding Approaches To Develop New Drugs For Modulating Central Gaba-ergic Systems On A Biochemical Basis Is Emphasized.^ Such Approaches Have Already Increased Our Arsenal Of Anti-epileptic Drugs And Our Understanding Of Some Basic Gaba-ergic Mechanisms, And Should Permit Further Rigorous Study Of Certain Neurologic-psychiatric Disorders Of Man (e.g., Convulsions, Aggressive Behavior, Huntington's Chorea, Parkinson's Disease) Which Appear To Involve Altered Central Gaba-ergic Systems. Taken Together, The New Information Gained From The Studies Presented In This Book Provide Further Evidence For The Concept That The Regulation Of Cns Functions Occurs By Inhibitory-disinhibitory Mechanisms, As Has Been Shown For Some Other Biological Systems (e.g., Transcription Of The Genetic Code, Enzyme Biosynthesis, Enzymatic Activities, Endocrine Function). Thus, It Seems Important Now To Develop New Drugs That Can Influence Such Inhibitory-disinhibitory Mechanisms. Edited By Paul Mandel And Francis V. Defeudis. Proceedings Of The International Symposium On Gaba--biochemistry And Cns Functions, Held In Strasbourg, France, July 24-25, 1978. Includes Bibliographies And Index.