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Actions of Glycine on Non‐dopaminergic Neurons of the Rat Substantia Nigra
Author(s) -
Mercuri Nicola B.,
Bonci Antonello,
Pisani Antonio,
Calabresi Paolo,
Bernardi Giorgio
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-9568.1995.tb00656.x
Subject(s) - substantia nigra , dopaminergic , neuroscience , glycine , dopamine , chemistry , biology , amino acid , biochemistry
The effects of glycine on non‐dopaminergic cells in rat substantia nigra pars compacta and pars reticulata maintained in vitro were investigated using intracellular recording techniques. Glycine, superfused at a concentration between 30 μM and 1 mM, reversibly blocked the spontaneous firing of these neurons. The inhibition of firing discharge was associated with a hyperpolarization of the membrane (potassium acetate‐filled electrodes) and an increase in conductance. Under voltage‐clamp experiments (holding potential between ‐57 and ‐65 mV), glycine produced an outward response which reversed polarity at about ‐74 mV. However, when the recording electrodes were filled with KCI, the glycinergic response was mainly depolarizing/inward and reversed at about ‐43 mV. Thus, it appeared to be due to an increase in chloride permeability. Furthermore, the effects of glycine were reversibly antagonized by strychnine (between 300 nM and 1 μM). Our findings demonstrate that glycine is a potent inhibitory agent on non‐dopaminergic cells of the substantia pars compacta and pars reticulata that acts by activating strychnine‐sensitive receptors.