Physiological and behavioral studies with muscimol.

Muscimol has been used to increase our knowledge of central GABAergic systems, CNS physiology, and behavior. Some studies concerning the neurophysiological and behavioral effects of muscimol and its analogs have been reviewed and analyzed. In vivo iontophoretic studies have greatly increased our knowledge of the active conformation(s) adopted by GABA during its interaction with neuronal synaptic (or extrasynaptic) receptors, and behavioral studies have supported the notion that central GABAergic systems might be involved in convulsions, extrapyramidal functions, and other behaviors. However, behavioral studies with muscimol remain difficult to interpret in terms of central GABAergic systems, especially since muscimol is extensively metabolized and since it appears to interact with membrane sites other than GABA receptors. Muscimol does not appear to be useful for reversing human neurologic-psychiatric disorders.