Strychnine and L-allylglycine but not bicuculline and picrotoxin induce transsynaptic degeneration following transection of the inferior alveolar nerve in adult rats.

The effects of the convulsants strychnine, bicuculline, picrotoxin and L-allylglycine on the transsynaptic destruction of medullary dorsal horn neurons were examined following transection of the inferior alveolar nerve in adult rats. Strychnine and L-allylglycine enhanced the transsynaptic effect of nerve transection and caused degeneration of many dorsal horn neurons, while bicuculline and picrotoxin did not. The removal of glycinergic and GABAergic postsynaptic inhibition appears to enhance the transsynaptic destructive activity which follows the peripheral nerve transection.