Abstract
THE excitatory action of strychnine on the central nervous system results from its ability to antagonize the effect of synaptic inhibition1. Recently, evidence has accumulated for glycine as an inhibitory transmitter, especially at lower levels2,3. Because strychnine is capable of antagonizing the inhibitory effect of iontophoretically applied glycine3, the contention is that it does not interfere with transmitter liberation, but interacts with receptors located on postsynaptic membranes, rendering them less sensitive to glycine-mediated inhibition. In vitro studies of the mechanism of action of strychnine, concerned chiefly with the active transport of glycine, have invariably yielded negative results3,4.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bradley, K., Easton, D. M., and Eccles, J. C., J. Physiol., 122, 474 (1953).
Graham, L. T., Shank, R. P., Werman, R., and Aprison, M. H., J. Neurochem., 14, 465 (1967).
Curtis, D. R., Hösli, L., Johnston, G. A. R., and Johnston, I. H., Exp. Brain Res., 5, 235 (1968).
Neal, M. J., and Pickles, H. G., Nature, 223, 679 (1969).
Gray, E. G., and Whittaker, V. P., J. Anat., 96, 79 (1962).
Smith, S. E., J. Neurochem., 14, 291 (1967).
Curtis, D. R., Duggan, A. W., and Johnston, G. A. R., Brain Res., 14, 759 (1969).
Dusser de Barenne, J. G., and McCulloch, W. S., J. Neurophysiol., 1, 69 (1938).
Godin, Y., Heiner, L., Mark, J., and Mandel, P., J. Neurochem., 16, 869 (1969).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
VALDES, F., ORREGO, F. Strychnine inhibits the Binding of Glycine to Rat Brain-Cortex Membrane. Nature 226, 761–762 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1038/226761a0
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/226761a0
This article is cited by
-
Biosynthesis of strychnine
Nature (2022)
-
Strychnine as an anticholinesterase: In vitro studies with rat brain enzymes
Experientia (1974)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.