Biomaterial Database

Specific glycine uptake by identified neurons of Aplysia californica. I. Autoradiography. 1978

C H Price, and R E Coggeshall, and D McAdoo

The identified giant neurons R3-R14 in the Aplysia parietovisceral ganglion (PVG) have a rapid, Na+-dependent and Hg2+-sensitive uptake system for glycine not found in neighboring neurons. In autoradiographs of PVG incubated in [3H]glycine (glutaraldehyde fix), the cytoplasms of R3-R14 have 3--4 times more silver grains (No./100 sq.micrometer) than other neurons. The glycine uptake system in R3-R14 is selective (alanine, serine, leucine, and proline are taken up equally by all neurons) and is unaffected by reserpine and anisomycin. Neurons R3-R14 contain 2 times less label when ganglia are fixed in formaldehyde than when glutaraldehyde is used as a fixative. Because formaldehyde fixes free amino acids poorly, much of the glycine taken up by R3-R14 is, therefore, not incorporated into protein. In autoradiographs of PVG incubated in [3H]glycine, silver grains are distributed randomly throughout the cytoplasm and nucleus of R3-R14; no association of the grains with the dense core granules characteristic of these neurons7 or other cellular components was found. In contrast, grains in the neurosecretory "bag cells" of the PVG were clustered in numerous discrete areas of the cytoplasm (Golgi complex areas) and the nucleus was only sparsely labeled. The existence of a rapid and selective glycine uptake system in R3-R14, together with their high endogenous glycine concentrations17, suggests that glycine may be a neurotransmitter in these neurons.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007424	Intracellular Fluid	The fluid inside CELLS.	Fluid, Intracellular,Fluids, Intracellular,Intracellular Fluids
D009419	Nerve Tissue Proteins		Proteins, Nerve Tissue,Tissue Proteins, Nerve
D009474	Neurons	The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D002467	Cell Nucleus	Within a eukaryotic cell, a membrane-limited body which contains chromosomes and one or more nucleoli (CELL NUCLEOLUS). The nuclear membrane consists of a double unit-type membrane which is perforated by a number of pores; the outermost membrane is continuous with the ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM. A cell may contain more than one nucleus. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed)	Cell Nuclei,Nuclei, Cell,Nucleus, Cell
D003593	Cytoplasm	The part of a cell that contains the CYTOSOL and small structures excluding the CELL NUCLEUS; MITOCHONDRIA; and large VACUOLES. (Glick, Glossary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1990)	Protoplasm,Cytoplasms,Protoplasms
D005724	Ganglia	Clusters of multipolar neurons surrounded by a capsule of loosely organized CONNECTIVE TISSUE located outside the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.
D005998	Glycine	A non-essential amino acid. It is found primarily in gelatin and silk fibroin and used therapeutically as a nutrient. It is also a fast inhibitory neurotransmitter.	Aminoacetic Acid,Glycine, Monopotassium Salt,Glycine Carbonate (1:1), Monosodium Salt,Glycine Carbonate (2:1), Monolithium Salt,Glycine Carbonate (2:1), Monopotassium Salt,Glycine Carbonate (2:1), Monosodium Salt,Glycine Hydrochloride,Glycine Hydrochloride (2:1),Glycine Phosphate,Glycine Phosphate (1:1),Glycine Sulfate (3:1),Glycine, Calcium Salt,Glycine, Calcium Salt (2:1),Glycine, Cobalt Salt,Glycine, Copper Salt,Glycine, Monoammonium Salt,Glycine, Monosodium Salt,Glycine, Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate,Acid, Aminoacetic,Calcium Salt Glycine,Cobalt Salt Glycine,Copper Salt Glycine,Hydrochloride, Glycine,Monoammonium Salt Glycine,Monopotassium Salt Glycine,Monosodium Salt Glycine,Phosphate, Glycine,Salt Glycine, Monoammonium,Salt Glycine, Monopotassium,Salt Glycine, Monosodium
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001048	Aplysia	An opisthobranch mollusk of the order Anaspidea. It is used frequently in studies of nervous system development because of its large identifiable neurons. Aplysiatoxin and its derivatives are not biosynthesized by Aplysia, but acquired by ingestion of Lyngbya (seaweed) species.	Aplysias
D001345	Autoradiography	The making of a radiograph of an object or tissue by recording on a photographic plate the radiation emitted by radioactive material within the object. (Dorland, 27th ed)	Radioautography