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Glycine mediated alterations in intracellular pH
Joshua S Green1, Vibhakar C Kotak, Dan H Sanes
1Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA.
Brain Research
|October 2, 2003
Summary
Glycine alters intracellular pH in the lateral superior olivary nucleus (LSO) through bicarbonate-dependent and independent mechanisms. These pH changes correlate with neuronal hyperpolarization and subsequent depolarization, impacting LSO coding properties.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Auditory system research
- Cellular physiology
Background:
- Glycinergic transmission is crucial for auditory processing in the lateral superior olivary nucleus (LSO).
- Intracellular pH dynamics are known to influence neuronal function and excitability.
- The role of glycine in modulating LSO intracellular pH and its impact on neuronal activity remained unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of glycine on intracellular pH in the LSO.
- To elucidate the mechanisms underlying glycine-induced pH changes, particularly the role of bicarbonate.
- To correlate these pH shifts with electrophysiological responses in LSO neurons.
Main Methods:
- Utilized brain slices of the LSO for experiments.
- Employed BCECF-AM, a fluorescent pH indicator, to measure intracellular pH.
- Performed whole-cell recordings to assess neuronal membrane potential changes.
Main Results:
- Glycine induced an initial alkalinization followed by acidification in the presence of extracellular bicarbonate.
- In the absence of bicarbonate, glycine solely caused intracellular acidifications.
- Glycine evoked hyperpolarization followed by a sustained depolarization in LSO neurons.
Conclusions:
- Bicarbonate-dependent alkalinization may involve chloride/bicarbonate exchange.
- Bicarbonate-independent acidification is potentially linked to glycine-induced neuronal depolarization.
- Glycinergic signaling significantly influences LSO neuronal excitability and pH homeostasis, affecting auditory information coding.