Cited by 149Treatment of Major DepressionNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

GABAergic Control of Depression-Related Brain States

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Luscher, Bernhard, Fuchs, Thomas·2015·Advances in Pharmacology

Abstract

The GABAergic deficit hypothesis of major depressive disorders (MDDs) posits that reduced γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration in brain, impaired function of GABAergic interneurons, altered expression and function of GABA(A) receptors, and changes in GABAergic transmission dictated by altered chloride homeostasis can contribute to the etiology of MDD. Conversely, the hypothesis posits that the efficacy of currently used antidepressants is determined by their ability to enhance GABAergic neurotransmission. We here provide an update for corresponding evidence from studies of patients and preclinical animal models of depression. In addition, we propose an explanation for the continued lack of genetic evidence that explains the considerable heritability of MDD. Lastly, we discuss how alterations in GABAergic transmission are integral to other hypotheses of MDD that emphasize (i) the role of monoaminergic deficits, (ii) stress-based etiologies, (iii) neurotrophic deficits, and (iv) the neurotoxic and neural circuit-impairing consequences of chronic excesses of glutamate. We propose that altered GABAergic transmission serves as a common denominator of MDD that can account for all these other hypotheses and that plays a causal and common role in diverse mechanistic etiologies of depressive brain states and in the mechanism of action of current antidepressant drug therapies.

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  • Findings in mood disorders reveal alterations at the levels of intracellular signaling, gene expression, neurotrophic factors, neurogenesis, neuroinflammation, excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, and synaptic number and function in several brain regions implicated in depression.

    “These findings reveal alterations at the levels of intracellular signaling, gene expression, neurotrophic factors, neurogenesis, neuroinflammation, excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, and synaptic number and function, and have been described in several brain regions implicated in depression 13-22 .”

    From Neuroplasticity in cognitive and psychological mechanisms of depression: an integrative model (2020) · cites this paper as [14]

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Authors
Luscher, B., & Fuchs, T.
Affiliations
Pennsylvania State University (US)
Venue
Advances in Pharmacology
Publisher
Elsevier
Published
2015
Volume
73
Pages
97-144
ISSN
1054-3589 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W135939678
Cited by
149
References
329
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 1
FWCI
22.97
Type
book chapter
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Advances in pharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Universität Zürich
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R21MH097247, R01MH099851, R01MH083911, MH099851, MH097247, MH083911, RC1MH089111)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
major depressive disorder, GABAergic neurotransmission, GABAA receptor, GABAergic interneurons, chloride homeostasis, antidepressant mechanism, glutamate excitotoxicity, neural circuits, animal models of depression
MeSH terms
Animals, Antidepressive Agents, Brain, Major Depressive Disorder, Disease Models, Animal, gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Humans, Synaptic Transmission, Receptors, GABA-A

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