EFFECTS OF NOCODAZOLE END TAXOL ON GLYCINE EVOKED CURRENTS ON RAT SPINAL-CORD NEURONS IN CULTURE

WE examined the effect of altering the cytoskeleton polymerization sta te by treatment with nocodazole and taxol on glycine-evoked currents i n patch-clamp recordings from cultured spinal cord neurones. Adding AT P and GTP to the pipette solution did not prevent the rundown of the p eak current. In the absence or in the presence of ATP, the proportion of the non-desensitizing part of the glycine evoked-current declined w ith time. Adding intracellular GTP and ATP stabilized glycine-evoked r esponses although the proportion of noninactivating current was reduce d. Nocodazole reduced by itself the proportion of the non-inactivating current whereas taxol (with ATP and GTP) had an opposite effect. Thes e results suggest that the polymerization state of microtubules has fu nctional consequences on glycine receptors.