Glycine microinjected into nucleus tractus solitarii of rat acts through cholinergic mechanisms

Previous studies have demonstrated the release of glycine from neurotransmitter pools in the region of the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) where cardiovascular afferents terminate. Microinjection of glycine into NTS elicits decreases in arterial pressure and heart rate; these effects are also produced by glutamate or acetylcholine. As glycine may act both at the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor complex and centrally to release acetylcholine, we have sought to determine whether the cardiovascular responses to exogenous glycine are mediated through glutamatergic or cholinergic mechanisms. Responses to glycine microinjected into the NTS of anesthetized rats were not affected by blockade of the NMDA receptor complex but, like acetylcholine, were blocked by muscarinic receptor blockade. Physostigmine prolonged responses to glycine. Subthreshold doses of glycine, which augmented responses to acetylcholine microinjected into NTS, either decreased or had no effect on glutamate or NMDA. This study supports a role for glycine in cardiovascular regulation by the NTS and suggests that the actions of glycine may be effected, at least in part, through cholinergic mechanisms.