[Changes in glycine-activated conductivity of membranes of chick embryo neurons in culture].

Glycine-activated whole-cell currents of the chick spinal cord neurons have been investigated in a chicken embryo during different periods in culture. Shifts in the concentration dependence curve of mature and immature cells are shown. Mature cells prove to be motoneurons and die 5-7 days later in vitro. immature cells are neuroblasts differentiating in culture. Glycine sensitivity of low-differentiating cells increased more than 10 times by the end of the 14th day in culture. Desensitization kinetics of the glycine-activated currents decelerated with age. A crucial role of spontaneous electric activity was shown for maturation of the agonist-activated conductance.