[en] Dopamine (DA) neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) exhibit two main firing modes, spontaneous single action potential (AP) firing and bursting. The amount of DA released by these neurons in target areas depends on the presynaptic AP firing pattern and is essential to modulate several aspects of behavior such as the control of movement. Bursting activity is mediated by excitatory afferents and specifically by the activation of NMDA receptors (NMDARs). However, the level of activation of NMDARs at these synapses during spontaneous synaptic activity is unknown. We assessed the occupancy of the glycine binding sites of the NMDAR by testing the effects of coagonists and by blocking the uptake of glycine on spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) in DA neurons of the SNc.
