Ju YH, Guzzo A, Chiu MW, Taylor P, Moran MF, Gurd JW, MacDonald JF, Orser BA. (2009) J Neurosci Res. 87(8):1737-47. Abstract γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABAARs) that contain the α5 subunit are expressed predominantly in the hippocampus, where they regulate learning and memory processes. Unlike conventional postsynaptic receptors, GABAARs containing the α5 subunit (α5GABAARs) are […]

Sun HS, Jackson MF, Martin LJ, Jansen K, Teves L, Cui H, Kiyonaka S, Mori Y, Jones M, Forder JP, Golde TE, Orser BA, Macdonald JF, Tymianski M. (2009) Nat Neurosci. 12(10):1300-7.   Abstract Cardiac arrest victims may experience transient brain hypoperfusion leading to delayed death of hippocampal CA1 neurons and cognitive impairment. We prevented […]

Martin LJ, Oh GH, Orser BA. (2009) Anesthesiology. 111(5):1025-35. Abstract BACKGROUND: The memory-blocking properties of general anesthetics have recently received considerable attention because of concerns related to intraoperative awareness and postoperative cognitive dysfunction. The goal of this study was to identify the mechanisms by which γ-aminobutyric acid subtype A receptors that contain the α5 subunit (α5GABAARs) […]

Martin LJ, Bonin RP, Orser BA. (2009) Biochem Soc Trans. 37(Pt 6):1334-7. Abstract The notion that drug treatments can improve memory performance has moved from the realm of science fiction to that of serious investigation. A popular working hypothesis is that cognition can be improved by altering the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission. This […]

Vargas-Caballero M, Martin LJ, Salter MW, Orser BA, Paulsen O. (2010)  Neuropharmacology. 58(3):668-75. Abstract GABAA receptors that contain the alpha5 subunit (α5GABAARs) are highly expressed in the hippocampus, and have been implicated in learning and memory processes. They generate a tonic form of inhibition that regulates neuronal excitability. Recently it was shown that α5GABAARs also […]

Chen X, Qiu L, Li M, Dürrnagel S, Orser BA, Xiong ZG, MacDonald JF. (2010) Neuropharmacology. 58(7):1045-53. Abstract Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are proton-gated cation channels that are predominantly expressed in the nervous system. ASICs are involved in a number of neurological diseases such as pain, ischemic stroke and multiple sclerosis but limited tools are available to […]

Clarke H, Kay J, Orser BA, Gollish J, Mitsakakis N, Katz J. (2010) Pain Med. 11(6):966-71. Abstract INTRODUCTION: Gabapentin is an anti-epileptic drug which is also used for the treatment of postoperative pain and a variety of psychiatric diseases including chronic anxiety disorders. We tested the hypothesis that compared with a placebo control, gabapentin would reduce preoperative […]

Martin LJ, Zurek AA, MacDonald JF, Roder JC, Jackson MF, Orser BA. (2010) J Neurosci. 30(15):5269-82. Abstract Synaptic plasticity, which is the neuronal substrate for many forms of hippocampus-dependent learning, is attenuated by GABA type A receptor (GABAAR)-mediated inhibition. The prevailing notion is that a synaptic or phasic form of GABAergic inhibition regulates synaptic plasticity; however, […]

Chen X, Orser BA, MacDonald JF. (2010) Eur J Pharmacol. 648(1-3):15-23. Abstract Acid sensing ion channels (ASICs) are implicated in various brain functions including learning and memory and are involved in a number of neurological disorders such as pain, ischemic stroke, depression, and multiple sclerosis. We have recently defined ASICs as one of receptor targets of […]

Saab BJ, Maclean AJ, Kanisek M, Zurek AA, Martin LJ, Roder JC, Orser BA. (2010) Anesthesiology. 113(5):1061-71. Abstract BACKGROUND: Memory blockade is an essential component of the anesthetic state. However, postanesthesia memory deficits represent an undesirable and poorly understood adverse effect. Inhibitory α5 subunit-containing γ-aminobutyric acid subtype A receptors (α5GABAA) are known to play a […]