Delta-containing GABA-A Receptors As Targets For Neuroprotection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$953,825.00
Summary
After stroke, the neurotransmitter, GABA spills onto sites located away from the synapse. This spillover is hypothesised to have a protective role in limiting cell death. However the timeframe for this to occur is too long for observing significant beneficial effects after stroke. Therefore, stimulating this naturally occurring protective mechanism early using pharmaceutical interventions that target a specific type of GABAA receptor is an unexplored strategy to minimize cell death after stroke.
?4-containing GABA-A Receptors As Targets For ?-hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$610,572.00
Summary
?-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is an elusive substance. On one hand, it is a prescribed drug to treat narcolepsy, and ameliorate alcohol withdrawal. On the other hand, GHB is the club drug “Fantasy” or “Liquid Ecstasy”, taken by many Australians for its social, sexual and euphoric effects. This proposal will identify GHB targets and provide insight to its mechanism of action.
Extrasynaptic GABA-A Receptors As Novel Targets For -Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$525,946.00
Summary
GHB (known as Fantasy) is a curious substance. It is a drug of abuse, a therapy and occurs naturally in the brain. GHB targets brain proteins including the enigmatic _GHB receptor� which participates in the therapeutic benefits of GHB. Our research will determine whether the delta-containing GABA-A receptors are the elusive "GHB receptor". Uncovering the identity of the the elusive _GHB receptor� would be a major breakthrough in terms of our understanding of the therapeutic and recreational use ....GHB (known as Fantasy) is a curious substance. It is a drug of abuse, a therapy and occurs naturally in the brain. GHB targets brain proteins including the enigmatic _GHB receptor� which participates in the therapeutic benefits of GHB. Our research will determine whether the delta-containing GABA-A receptors are the elusive "GHB receptor". Uncovering the identity of the the elusive _GHB receptor� would be a major breakthrough in terms of our understanding of the therapeutic and recreational use of GHB and its action as a brain chemical.Read moreRead less