Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system, is widely distributed in the whole nervous system. It has important relation with the changes of GABA content and pathogenesis of epilepsy. Some studies have shown that the incidence of epilepsy is related to the decrease of GABA mediated inhibitory synaptic transmission and the therapeutic effect of hippocampal electrical stimulation on treatment of drug resistant temporal lobe epilepsy model may be achieved by increasing the content of GABA in brain tissue. Accordingly, these views will open up a new way for the treatment of epilepsy. Although the changes of GABA receptors are closely related to the epilepsy, the reports of the study of GABA receptor are different and contradictory. Therefore, the structure, classification and partial regulation mechanism of GABA receptor will be summed up in this review.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid; Receptor; Epilepsy; Regulation mechanism