NEURASTHENIC FATIGUE, CHEMICAL-SENSITIVITY AND GABA-A RECEPTOR TOXINS

Following observation of fatigue syndromes in people who have been occ upationally exposed to pesticides and insecticides which exert their t oxicity through the GABAa receptor, we have formulated the hypothesis that fatigue syndromes in general may be secondary to altered sensitiv ity of the GABAa receptor. We discuss the possible involvement of orga nochlorine compounds which are widespread in the environment. Organoph osphate compounds may have similar toxic effects through damaged choli nergic input to the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus where cholinergic and GABAergic transmission are closely linked.