Dual effect of glycine on isolated rat suprachiasmatic neurons

Pharmacological properties of strychnine-sensitive and -insensitive glycine receptors have been investigated in rat suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) neurons. Because the SCN neurons were too small for stable intracellular recordings by the glass-microelectrode technique, a conventional whole cell mode patch-clamp technique was employed on the acutely dissociated SCN neurons. Dissociated SCN neurons were morphologically heterogeneous and could be distinguished into several types. All cells responded to glycine in a concentration-dependent manner. The glycine-induced current was primarily Cl- sensitive and competitively blocked by strychnine. The SCN neurons also responded to excitatory amino acids: glutamate, quisqualate, kainate, and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). Responses to glutamate and aspartate, which are endogenous neurotransmitter candidates, were enhanced by adding glycine. Glycine especially augmented the maximum response to NMDA in a full concentration range. 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) did not suppress the strychnine-sensitive glycine response but did suppress the strychnine-insensitive NMDA response in a competitive manner for glycine. The results suggest that glycine influences neural activity in the SCN as a classical inhibitory neurotransmitter and an excitatory neuromodulator.