Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in brain, is synthesized from glutamate and metabolized to succinic semialdehyde by glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and GABA ...transaminase (GABA-T), respectively. The fast inhibitory effect of GABA is mediated by GABA type A (GABA sub(A)) receptors that are associated with several neurological disorders, and GABA sub(A) receptors are targets of several therapeutic agents. To date, information on the distribution and quantity of GABA sub(A) receptors in Carassius auratus gibelio is still limited. We investigated for the first time, the tissue-specific distribution of GABA sub(A)R beta 2a and GABA sub(A)R beta 2b, the two subunits of the predominant GABA sub(A) receptor subtype ( alpha 1 beta 2 gamma 2), and then, the expression of GABA sub(A)R beta 2a, GABA sub(A)R beta 2b, GAD, and quantified GABA-T genes in different tissues by quantitative real-time PCR method and compared different expressions between two developmental stages of C. auratus gibelio. Results showed that GABA sub(A)R beta 2a and GABA sub(A)R beta 2b genes expressed in both brain and peripheral organs using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. In addition, the majority of GABA sub(A)R beta 2a, GABA sub(A)R beta 2b, GAD, and GABA-T were mainly synthesized in brain; however, a considerable amount of GABA-T was secreted from the peripheral tissues, especially in the liver. Moreover, the expression of GABA sub(A)R beta 2a and GABA sub(A)R beta 2b genes in different tissues varied with body weight change. This study provides a reference for further studies on GABA and GABA sub(A) receptors subunits and an insight on the possible pharmacological properties of the GABA sub(A) receptor in C. auratus gibelio.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in brain, is synthesized from glutamate and metabolized to succinic semialdehyde by glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and GABA ...transaminase (GABA-T), respectively. The fast inhibitory effect of GABA is mediated by GABA type A (GABA
A
) receptors that are associated with several neurological disorders, and GABA
A
receptors are targets of several therapeutic agents. To date, information on the distribution and quantity of GABA
A
receptors in
Carassius
auratus
gibelio
is still limited. We investigated for the first time, the tissue-specific distribution of GABA
A
Rβ2a and GABA
A
Rβ2b, the two subunits of the predominant GABA
A
receptor subtype (α1β2γ2), and then, the expression of GABA
A
Rβ2a, GABA
A
Rβ2b, GAD, and quantified GABA-T genes in different tissues by quantitative real-time PCR method and compared different expressions between two developmental stages of
C
.
auratus
gibelio
. Results showed that GABA
A
Rβ2a and GABA
A
Rβ2b genes expressed in both brain and peripheral organs using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. In addition, the majority of GABA
A
Rβ2a, GABA
A
Rβ2b, GAD, and GABA-T were mainly synthesized in brain; however, a considerable amount of GABA-T was secreted from the peripheral tissues, especially in the liver. Moreover, the expression of GABA
A
Rβ2a and GABA
A
Rβ2b genes in different tissues varied with body weight change. This study provides a reference for further studies on GABA and GABA
A
receptors subunits and an insight on the possible pharmacological properties of the GABA
A
receptor in
C
.
auratus
gibelio
.
