The GABA(A) Receptor: Subunit-Dependent Functions and Absence Seizures.

GABA(A) receptors on thalamic relay and reticular (nRT) neurons play a critical role in thalamocortical mechanisms underlying absence seizures. Studies with absence seizure-prone rats and transgenic mice have taken advantage of differences in the subunit compositions of GABA(A) receptors in the two thalamic cell populations to clarify thalamocortical rhythm generating mechanisms and explain the antiabsence activity of benzodiazepines. The relevance of this work is highlighted by the recent finding of a mutation in the GABA(A) receptor gamma2 subunit in a family with childhood absence seizures.