323 - GABA-A Receptor Subtypes as Targets for Fast-Acting Antidepressants

Session Chair(s)

• Uwe Rudolph

  Speaker
  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

This session will explore the role of inhibitory neurotransmission and specifically of molecularly defined GABA-A receptor subtypes in the response to chronic stress, which has been implicated in the development of depression. Speakers will present basic science and translational aspects linking different GABA-A receptor subtypes to depressive-like behaviors. A combination of pharmacological, biochemical, molecular modeling, medicinal chemistry, electrophysiological and behavioral approaches has been applied to elucidate the mechanisms behind the surprising observation that both positive and negative allosteric modulation of a5-containing GABA-A receptors exhibit fast antidepressant actions and the suitability of this receptor subtype as a drug target for a novel class of antidepressants will be discussed.

Presentations:

• 3:30 PM – 3:35 PM

  Introduction
  

  Speaker: Uwe Rudolph – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• 3:35 PM – 3:55 PM

  Alpha2-containing GABA-A Receptors Promote Stress Resiliency in Mice
  

  Speaker: Uwe Rudolph – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• 3:55 PM – 4:15 PM

  Brain Inhibitory GABAergic Function and Cognitive Deficits in Depression and During Aging: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targeting
  

  Speaker: Etienne Sibille – Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, University of Toronto and DAMONA Pharmaceuticals
• 4:15 PM – 4:35 PM

  The Potential of Negative Allosteric Modulators of Alpha5-containing GABA Receptors for the Treatment of Neuropsychiatric Disorders
  

  Speaker: Scott Thompson – University of Maryland School of Medicine
• 4:35 PM – 4:45 PM

  Immune Phenotypes of Oligodendroglial-Lineage Cells in MDD and in Response to Chronic Stress-Induced Microglial Inflammation
  

  Presenting Author: Miguel Madeira – Stony Brook University
• 4:45 PM – 5:00 PM

  Facilitated Group Discussion