A mapping of the distribution of acetylcholine, choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase in discrete areas of rat brain

doi:10.1016/0006-8993(78)90408-0

Brain Research

Volume 153, Issue 2, 22 September 1978, Pages 295-306

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(78)90408-0 Get rights and content

Summary

Acetylcholine (ACh) concentration, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were measured in 60 discrete areas dissected from the rat forebrain. All 3 substances were detectable in every region examined. The range for ACh levels was approximately 9-fold, with highest levels in the striatal and mesolimbic area. Wider ranges were found for ChAT and AChE. In addition to not having a uniform distribution, ACh, ChAT and AChE did not always show proportional variations. ACh levels did not appear to relate to the activity of either enzyme in a simple manner. There was a better correlation (r = 0.902) between the activities of ChAT and AChE, with AChE activities always being higher. In some regions, AChE was disproportionately low or high relative to ChAT. In general, the biochemical results presented here are compatible with histochemical studies of AChE. Such measurements in small brain regions should prove valuable in future experiments designed to determine cholinergic function and localize cholinergic pathways.

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^*: Research Associate in Pharmacology-Toxicology, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutesof Health, Bethesda, Md. 20014, U.S.A.

^**: Predoctoral Student, Department of Pharmacology, George Washington University, School of Medicine, Washington, D.C. 20037, U.S.A.

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A mapping of the distribution of acetylcholine, choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase in discrete areas of rat brain

Summary

Brain Research

Neuropharmacology

Brain Research

Life Sci.

Microchem. J.

Neurosci. Lett.

Brain Research

Brain Research

Brain Research

Neuropharmacology

Brain Research

J. biol. Chem.

Brain Research

Brain Research

Brain Research

Brain Research

Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.)

Brain Research

Progr. Neurobiol.

Fluorometric determination of 0.1–10 μg of cholesterol

Analyt. Chem.

Choline acetyltransferase levels in diencephalic nuclei of the rat

J. Neurochem.

Choline acetyltransferase activity of human brain tissue during development and at maturity

J. Neurochem.

A histochemical procedure for the localization of choline acetyltransferase activity

J. Histochem. Cytochem.

Choline esters in tissue extracts

J. Physiol. (Lond.)