Evidence for functional co-activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors by glycine.
The excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate acts at several receptor subtypes in the CNS, including N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. The inhibitory neurotransmitter glycine is a co-agonist of NMDA receptors and functional glycinergic co-activation of NMDA receptors is theoretically possible due to the presence of background glutamate. We report the first high fidelity recording of a distinct NMDA receptor excitatory post-synaptic potential (EPSP) in the intact mammalian CNS. The EPSP was evoked by multi-shock activation of a glycinergic pathway rather than a glutamatergic pathway and had characteristics most compatible with glycine, rather than glutamate, activation of NMDA receptors.
Department of Physiology, University College London, UK.
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R
Fern
G P
GP
Connolly
P J
PJ
Harrison
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D005998:Glycine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007649:Ketamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000187:drug effects*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*
D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D007649:Ketamine; D005998:Glycine