Mice lacking spinal α2GABA A receptors: Altered GABAergic neurotransmission, diminished GABAergic antihyperalgesia, and potential compensatory mechanisms preventing a hyperalgesic phenotype.

•α2 GABAARs are the predominant GABAAR isoform in the dorsal horn.•Here, we investigated mice lacking these receptors from the spinal cord.•We found reduced GABAergic inhibition and a lack of GABAAR-mediated analgesia.•Unexpectedly, acute nociception was not altered in these mice.•No compensatory up-regulation of glycinergic inhibition was detected.