ISSN:
1432-1106
Keywords:
Motoneurones
;
Glycine
;
GABA
;
Strychnine
;
Spinal post-synaptic inhibition
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Electrophoretically administered glycine, β-alanine and GABA hyperpolarize spinal motoneurones in cats anaesthetized with pentobarbitone. The reversal potential for these hyperpolarizations is similar to that of inhibitory postsynaptic potentials. Alterations in intracellular K+ and Cl− ion concentrations, and intracellular injection of a series of anions of different hydrated ion size, affect inhibitory and amino acid potentials in the same fashion. Hence it is probable that glycine, β-alanine and GABA produce an alteration in membrane permeability similar to that produced by spinal inhibitory synaptic transmitters. Strychnine reversibly blocks the action of inhibitory transmitters, glycine and β-alanine, but is without effect on the hyperpolarizing action of GABA. These results indicate that glycine may be a major spinal inhibitory transmitter, in which case strychnine affects spinal postsynaptic inhibition by limiting the action of glycine upon subsynaptic inhibitory receptors.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00238666
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