High concentrations of glycine induce long-lasting changes in synaptic efficacy in rat hippocampal slices.
Brief perfusion of adult rat hippocampal slices with high concentrations of glycine results in a slowly developing, long-lasting increase in synaptic responses in field CA1. Two observations indicated that the effect requires the activation of NMDA receptors by glycine. First, the glycine-induced potentiation is reduced by ketamine, an NMDA receptor channel blocker. Second, glycine potentiates the NMDA receptor-mediated epileptiform activity recorded in the presence of low magnesium concentration and picrotoxin. In slices prepared from rat pups (5-8 postnatal day), perfusion with glycine results in a slowly developing, long-lasting depression of EPSP amplitude. These results provide a new way of producing potentiation of synaptic efficacy and suggest new properties of NMDA receptors.
Shahi
K
K
Neuroscience Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90089-2520.
Marvizon
J C
JC
Baudry
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005998:Glycine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000187:drug effects; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects
D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D005998:Glycine