Where is GABA initially released?

Where is GABA initially released?

• A. At the dorsal root ganglion
• B. In the sympathetic ganglion
• C. In the IVF
• D. In the dorsal horn

Answer: (D)

GABA’s role here is as the main inhibitory transmitter inside the spinal cord, especially in the dorsal horn where pain signals first enter the central nervous system. GABAergic interneurons in the dorsal horn release GABA to dampen the incoming nociceptive signal, acting both on the postsynaptic dorsal horn neurons and on the presynaptic terminals of the primary afferent neurons. This setup provides the initial brake on pain transmission right at the first synapse in the spinal cord, helping to control how strongly the signal is passed on to higher centers. The dorsal root ganglion houses the cell bodies of the sensory neurons, but GABA is not released there. The sympathetic ganglion uses acetylcholine, not GABA, and the intervertebral foramen is simply an exit path for nerves, not a site of neurotransmitter release.

GABA’s role here is as the main inhibitory transmitter inside the spinal cord, especially in the dorsal horn where pain signals first enter the central nervous system. GABAergic interneurons in the dorsal horn release GABA to dampen the incoming nociceptive signal, acting both on the postsynaptic dorsal horn neurons and on the presynaptic terminals of the primary afferent neurons. This setup provides the initial brake on pain transmission right at the first synapse in the spinal cord, helping to control how strongly the signal is passed on to higher centers. The dorsal root ganglion houses the cell bodies of the sensory neurons, but GABA is not released there. The sympathetic ganglion uses acetylcholine, not GABA, and the intervertebral foramen is simply an exit path for nerves, not a site of neurotransmitter release.