Glycine receptor-mediated inhibition of dopamine and non-dopamine neurons of the rat ventral tegmental area in vitro

Fang Zheng, Steven W. Johnson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) were recorded intracellularly in slices of rat midbrain. Glycine (0.1-3 mM) caused a strychnine-sensitive and chloride-dependent reduction in membrane input resistance in both types of neuron. However, glycine also reduced the frequency of spontaneous bicuculline-sensitive inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) when recorded in dopaminergic cells. We conclude that glycine inhibits both types of VTA neuron by activating a strychnine-sensitive chloride conductance. Our data also raise the possibility that glycine could increase dopamine output from the VTA by a mechanism of disinhibition.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)313-317
Number of pages5
JournalBrain research
Volume919
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 23 2001

Keywords

  • Dopamine neuron
  • GABA
  • Glycine
  • Strychnine
  • Ventral tegmental area

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Developmental Biology

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