Summary
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1.
Microiontophoretic applications on cortical neurones in the “cerveaux isolés” of cats show that glycine is only 1/4 as potent as GABA in blocking glutamate-evoked discharges.
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2.
Glycine produces only relatively slight changes in the membrane conductance of cortical neurones. Its action falls off rapidly during a prolonged application.
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3.
In most cases, glycine produces either no clear change in membrane potential or a small depolarization. Although there is a positive correlation between the IPSP reversal potential (EI) and the reversal potential for the effect of glycine (EGLY), EGLY is usually much more positive than EI.
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4.
Glycine causes no gross interference with the action of GABA or with cortical IPSPs.
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5.
It is concluded that glycine is unlikely to play a major role in cortical inhibition.
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Receiving financial support from the Medical Research Council of Canada and the United Cerebral Palsy Research and Educational Foundation.
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Kelly, J.S., Krnjević, K. The action of glycine on cortical neurones. Exp Brain Res 9, 155–163 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238328
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238328