Fig. 1.

Schematic representation of the impact of acute and chronic stress on GABAergic transmission. Acute stress causes a reduction of GABA release, but an increase of GABAergic neuroactive steroids and extrasynaptic α4/δ GABA_A receptors. Chronic stress decreases GABA, neuroactive steroid levels and the synaptic GABA_A receptors, but increases extrasynaptic α4/δ GABA_A receptors, leading to a dramatic reduction of GABAergic transmission. Allopregnanolone, through binding with extrasynaptic α4/δ GABA_A receptors, may restore homeostasis by increasing GABAergic tone by the enhancement of tonic inhibition. (Created with Biorender.com).