If GABAergic synapse A has 10 GABAA receptors and GABAergic

If GABAergic synapse A has 10 GABAA receptors and GABAergic synapse B has 20 GABAA receptors, which synapse would show a larger post-synaptic potential (PSP) in response to a release event?

Solution

The GABA (gamma amino butyric acid) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter. Benzodiazepines (BDZ’s) are the sedative-hypnotics that act through the increased transmission of GABA.

If the neurotransmitter is excitatory and causes depolarization of post synaptic membrane, then EPSP (excitatory post synaptic potential) is generated. Or if, the released neurotransmitter is inhibitory and causes hyperpolarization of post synaptic membrane, then IPSP (inhibitory post synaptic potential) is generated.

As the numbers are larger in synapse B, more inhibitory post-synaptic potential is produced in synapse B.