Glycine-specific synapses in rat spinal cord. Identification by electron microscope autoradiography

Abstract

Glycine, an inhibitory transmitter in spinal cord, is taken up into specific nerve terminals by means of a unique high-affinity uptake system. In this study, [3H]glycine was directly microinjected into rat ventral horn in vivo and electron microscope autoradiography used to localize the label in various anatomic compartments. Quantiative analysis showed that [3H]glycine labeled a high proportion of axosomatic and axodendritic synapses which presumably act to inhibit spinal motor neurons.