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Mechanisms and functions of GABA co-release

Nature Reviews Neuroscience volume 17, pages 139–145 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

The 'one neuron, one neurotransmitter' doctrine states that synaptic communication between two neurons occurs through the release of a single chemical transmitter. However, recent findings suggest that neurons that communicate using more than one classical neurotransmitter are prevalent throughout the adult mammalian CNS. In particular, several populations of neurons previously thought to release only glutamate, acetylcholine, dopamine or histamine also release the major inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. Here, we review these findings and discuss the implications of GABA co-release for synaptic transmission and plasticity.

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Figure 1: Distinct cellular and molecular mechanisms of co-transmission.
Figure 2: Functions of GABA co-release.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge members of the Sabatini laboratory for insightful discussions on this and other topics and for fostering a learned and collegial research environment, which greatly helped to shape this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Nicolas X. Tritsch

  2. Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, 10016, New York, USA

    Nicolas X. Tritsch

  3. Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Adam J. Granger & Bernardo L. Sabatini

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Correspondence to Bernardo L. Sabatini.

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Tritsch, N., Granger, A. & Sabatini, B. Mechanisms and functions of GABA co-release. Nat Rev Neurosci 17, 139–145 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn.2015.21

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