History Of GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid) Timeline

Gamma-Aminobutyric acid is the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system. It plays a role in regulating neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system. In humans, GABA is also directly responsible for the regulation of muscle tone. Source

Although chemically it is an amino acid, GABA is rarely referred to as such in the scientific or medical communities, because the term “amino acid,” used without a qualifier, conventionally refers to the alpha amino acids, which GABA is not, nor is it ever incorporated into a protein.

In spastic diplegia in humans, GABA absorption becomes impaired by nerves damaged from the condition’s upper motor neuron lesion, which leads to hypertonia of the muscles signaled by those nerves that can no longer absorb GABA.

GABA does not penetrate the blood–brain barrier; it is synthesized in the brain. It is synthesized from glutamate using the enzyme L-glutamic acid decarboxylase and pyridoxal phosphate (which is the active form of vitamin B6) as a cofactor via a metabolic pathway called the GABA shunt. This process converts glutamate, the principal excitatory neurotransmitter, into the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter (GABA).  Source

A number of commercial sources sell formulations of GABA for use as a dietary supplement, sometimes for sublingual administration. These sources typically claim that the supplement has a calming effect. There is some disagreement as to whether or not these claims can be backed up scientifically. For example, there is evidence stating that the calming effects of  GABA can be seen observably in the human brain after administration of an oral GABA supplement. There is also evidence that GABA does not cross the blood–brain barrier at significant levels.  Source

There are some over-the-counter supplements such as Picamilon that cross the blood–brain barrier as a prodrug that later hydrolyzes into GABA and niacin.

GABA is also found in plants, where it is the most abundant amino acid in the apoplast of tomatoes. It may also have a role in cell signalling in plants.


1883:  

Gamma-aminobutyric acid was first synthesized, was first known only as a plant and microbe metabolic product. Source


1950:  

GABA was discovered to be an integral part of the mammalian central nervous system. Source


2007:  

An excitatory GABAergic system was described in the airway epithelium. The system activates following exposure to allergens and may participate in the mechanisms of asthma. GABAergic systems have also been found in the testis and in the eye lens.  Source  Source


This Timeline Need’s A Curator:  Would you like to join our hopeless cause to archive everything cool here at Histowiki.com by curating this page?  The benefits are… 1)  get your Bio right here to let everyone know of your interest in health and nutrition, 2) free press releases written and submitted by us every time you update the content,  3) we promote YOU as the authority anytime Media needs an interview [optional], 4) get a link back to your social profile to meet other people fascinated with this discovery , 5) get another link back to another site you own or like, 6) free membership to our HistoWiki Exclusive How-To section where we show videos on how to do cool things like how to blog for fun and profit, and that’s not all.  To get the whole enchilada on this, go to our F.A.Q. page here.

Are we missing anything?  Do any of these entries NOT belong? Feel free to make some suggestions below!  And hit the Facebook Like button if coming to this page made it worth coming to HistoWiki.com today.  Bookmark us now and follow the Timeline’s up coming changes by hitting the “Subscribe to” button below in the comment section!

A big Thank You to the contributors below for helping us stay up to date:

Do you have a correction or valuable addition to the timeline? Context matters! Click here and help this timeline’s curator get the history right!