Glycine receptor-mediated inhibition of dopamine and non-dopamine neurons of the rat ventral tegmental area in vitro

Dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) were recorded intracellularly in slices of rat midbrain. Glycine (0.1-3 mM) caused a strychnine-sensitive and chloride-dependent reduction in membrane input resistance in both types of neuron. However, glycine also reduced the frequency of spontaneous bicuculline-sensitive inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) when recorded in dopaminergic cells. We conclude that glycine inhibits both types of VTA neuron by activating a strychnine-sensitive chloride conductance. Our data also raise the possibility that glycine could increase dopamine output from the VTA by a mechanism of disinhibition.