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Related Concept Videos

The Synapse02:47

The Synapse

133.2K
Neurons communicate with one another by passing on their electrical signals to other neurons. A synapse is the location where two neurons meet to exchange signals. At the synapse, the neuron that sends the signal is called the presynaptic cell, while the neuron that receives the message is called the postsynaptic cell. Note that most neurons can be both presynaptic and postsynaptic, as they both transmit and receive information.
133.2K
Electrical Synapses01:28

Electrical Synapses

10.7K
Electrical synapses found in all nervous systems play important and unique roles. In these synapses, the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes are very close together (3.5 nm) and are actually physically connected by channel proteins forming gap junctions.
Gap junctions allow the current to pass directly from one cell to the next. In contrast, in the chemical synapse, the neurotransmitters carry the information through the synaptic cleft from one neuron to the next. They consist of two...
10.7K
Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

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Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
11.6K
Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

4.6K
Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
4.6K
Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators01:18

Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators

1.3K
γ-aminobutyric acid or GABA, plays a pivotal role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA pathway potentiators, also known as GABAergic drugs, are a class of pharmaceutical agents designed to enhance the functioning of the GABAergic system. These medications primarily treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for...
1.3K
Overview of Synapses01:25

Overview of Synapses

5.2K
A synapse is a specialized structure where two neurons connect, allowing them to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron. It is the point of communication between neurons. The term "synapse" is derived from the Greek word "synapsis," which means "conjunction." The entire process of neural communication revolves around the synapse. When activated, a neuron releases chemicals known as neurotransmitters into the synapse. These neurotransmitters cross the synapse and bind to...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Inhibitory Synapse Formation in a Co-culture Model Incorporating GABAergic Medium Spiny Neurons and HEK293 Cells Stably Expressing GABAA Receptors
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Inhibitory Synapse Formation in a Co-culture Model Incorporating GABAergic Medium Spiny Neurons and HEK293 Cells Stably Expressing GABAA Receptors

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Activity-dependent development of GABAergic synapses.

Won Chan Oh1, Katharine R Smith1

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, United States.

Brain Research
|November 16, 2018
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This review explores how inhibitory GABAergic synapses develop and change, focusing on the roles of neural activity and cell membrane molecules in maintaining brain balance.

Keywords:
GABAGABA(A) receptorsGABAergic synapseSynapse developmentSynapse plasticitySynaptogenic cell adhesion molecules

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Primary Cell Culture of Purified GABAergic or Glutamatergic Neurons Established through Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorting
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Presynaptically Silent Synapses Studied with Light Microscopy
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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Inhibitory Synapse Formation in a Co-culture Model Incorporating GABAergic Medium Spiny Neurons and HEK293 Cells Stably Expressing GABAA Receptors
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Inhibitory Synapse Formation in a Co-culture Model Incorporating GABAergic Medium Spiny Neurons and HEK293 Cells Stably Expressing GABAA Receptors

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Primary Cell Culture of Purified GABAergic or Glutamatergic Neurons Established through Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorting
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Presynaptically Silent Synapses Studied with Light Microscopy
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Presynaptically Silent Synapses Studied with Light Microscopy

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Synaptic Plasticity

Background:

  • Pyramidal neurons in the brain feature both excitatory and inhibitory synapses.
  • Maintaining the balance between excitation and inhibition is crucial for proper brain function.
  • While excitatory synapse development is well-studied, inhibitory synapse regulation remains less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of inhibitory GABAergic synapse formation.
  • To highlight the role of synaptic activity in regulating inhibitory synapse development.
  • To discuss the impact of postsynaptic membrane molecules on inhibitory synapse plasticity.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing research on GABAergic synapse development.
  • Analysis of studies investigating synaptic activity's influence.
  • Examination of molecular mechanisms involving postsynaptic membrane components.

Main Results:

  • Synaptic activity is a key regulator of inhibitory synapse formation and refinement.
  • Specific postsynaptic membrane molecules play critical roles in GABAergic synapse development.
  • Dynamic changes in inhibitory synapses contribute to overall brain circuit stability.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding GABAergic synapse development is essential for comprehending brain function and disorders.
  • Further research into molecular signals governing inhibitory synapses is warranted.
  • Targeting these mechanisms could offer therapeutic strategies for neurological conditions.