[Effects of noradrenaline,glycine, gamma-aminobutyric acid and L-glutamic acid on spinal field potentials in the rat].

Noradrenaline (NE), glucine (GLY), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and L-glutamic acid (L-GLU) were locally applied to the dorsal surface of lumbar spinal cord on anesthetized and immobilized rats and their effects on segmental (SP) and descending (DP) spinal field potentials were examined. Both waves N and P of SP and DP were reduced markedly in amplitudes following local application of NE. A significant decrease in amplitude of wave N and a remarkable increase in wave P in both SP and DP were shown during the application of GLY, GABA and L-GLU. The results suggest that these neurotransmitters may be involved in the generation of waves N and P, particularly affecting the activities of interneurons in the spinal dorsal horn.