Various investigations suggest glycine to be an inhibitory transmitter in the pigeon optic lobe in a pathway originating in the nucleus isthmi, pars parvocellularis (Ipc) terminating in the optic tectum. In order to obtain additional evidence for this hypothesis the in vivo release of endogenous glycine in the optic tectum upon electrical stimulation of Ipc was investigated. By perfusing the upper strata of the optic tectum with Ringer solution using a push-pull cannula endogenous amino acids released from the surrounding tissue were collected. Concentration of glycine and glutamic acid in the perfusates were determined by mass fragmentography of their N-pentafluoropropionyl hexafluoroisopropyl esters. Deuterium-labeled glycine and glutamic acid were used as internal standards for quantitative measurements. The resting release of glycine and glutamic acid was 2.9 pmol/min and 1.4 pmol/min, respectively. Electrical stimulation of Ipc was found to induce a 2--40-fold increase of the glycine efflux into the perfusate whereas the efflux of glutamic acid remained at a constant level. These findings strongly support the hypothesis that glycine is a transmitter in Ipc-tectal neurons.
Animals Columbidae