Glycine attenuates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting neuronal apoptosis in mice

► Glycine could attenuate ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) induced cerebral infarction and improved neurological outcomes in mice. ► Glycine effectively inhibits transient brain I/R-induced neuronal apoptosis. ► The mechanism may be via suppressing the “intrinsic” and the “extrinsic” apoptotic pathways. ► The protective effect of glycine against I/R injury to neurons may be mediated by GlyR rather than NMDA receptor.