The results obtained in the present study suggest that tiagabine, apart its anticonvulsant effect, has anxiolytic-like, sedative and antidepressant-like properties. In view of this, it can be potentially used in the treatment of anxiety and mood disorders.

4-Aminobutyric acid is an inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in the control of neuronal activity in the mammalian central nervous system. There is considerable direct and indirect evidence that impaired activity of GABAmediated inhibitory synapses may be an important causative factor in experimental and clinical seizure disorders. This review is focused on the recent development of compounds which can influence GABA neurotransmission by affecting the GABA receptors, the plasma-membrane GABA transporters (GATs) and catabolic enzyme GABA-transaminase (GABAT). These compounds have been primarily investigated in relation to epilepsy, but it has also been found that a decrease in GABA neurotransmission appears to be involved in the aetiology of several neurological disorders such as insomnia, spasticity, neuropathic pain, anxiety and other mental disorders.

Our results clearly indicate that the immune system is more vulnerable to decreased bacterial exposure early in life that may promote development of allergy.

There is a real hope that new drugs for NP may be available soon. This hope is based on advancing methods of genomics, developing new targets and more efficient drug screening. Some forms of direct influence on voltage-gated ion channels have a place in the treatment of NP, while the development of entirely novel Ang II AT₂ receptor antagonists or NGF inhibitors may be available for many chronic pain sufferers in the foreseeable future.

No abstract