Regional concentrations of choline and acetylcholine in the rat brain

Stavinoha, W. B.; Weintraub, Susan T.; Modak, A. T.

doi:10.1111/j.1471-4159.1974.tb04421.x

Cited by 79 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 10 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…However, the present re- sults show that 96 h of REM sleep deprivation in rats induced a significant increase in Achase activity in the medulla oblongata, pons and thalamus, without affecting the enzymes activity in the striatum, hippocampus or cerebral cortex. The present data agree with the reported heterogeneous distribution of Achase activity in different regions of the rats brain (8,9) and they also indicate the need to carry out assays in discrete brain areas rather than in large ones.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

“…There are significant differences in Achase activity among discrete regions (8). These differences are also observed in smaller brain areas such as discrete nuclei (9).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

“…There are significant regional differences in the levels of the components of cholinergic nerve endings in the brain. Levels of choline and Ach (8), choline acetyltransferase and Achase activity (8,9) and cholinergic receptors (10) are not uniformly distributed throughout the regions of the brain. These regional differences indicate differences in the density and activity of cholinergic nerve endings.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Rapid eye movement sleep deprivation induces an increase in acetylcholinesterase activity in discrete rat brain regions

Benedito

Camarini

2001

Braz J Med Biol Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Some upper brainstem cholinergic neurons (pedunculopontine and laterodorsal tegmental nuclei) are involved in the generation of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and project rostrally to the thalamus and caudally to the medulla oblongata. A previous report showed that 96 h of REM sleep deprivation in rats induced an increase in the activity of brainstem acetylcholinesterase (Achase), the enzyme which inactivates acetylcholine (Ach) in the synaptic cleft. There was no change in the enzymes activity in the whole brain and cerebrum. The components of the cholinergic synaptic endings (for example, Achase) are not uniformly distributed throughout the discrete regions of the brain. In order to detect possible regional changes we measured Achase activity in several discrete rat brain regions (medulla oblongata, pons, thalamus, striatum, hippocampus and cerebral cortex) after 96 h of REM sleep deprivation. Naive adult male Wistar rats were deprived of REM sleep using the flower-pot technique, while control rats were left in their home cages. Total, membrane-bound and soluble Achase activities (nmol of thiocholine formed min -1 mg protein -1 ) were assayed photometrically. The results (mean ± SD) obtained showed a statistically significant (Student t-test) increase in total Achase activity in the pons (control: 147.8 ± 12.8, REM sleep-deprived: 169.3 ± 17.4, N = 6 for both groups, P<0.025) and thalamus (control: 167.4 ± 29.0, REM sleep-deprived: 191.9 ± 15.4, N = 6 for both groups, P<0.05). Increases in membrane-bound Achase activity in the pons (control: 171.0 ± 14.7, REM sleep-deprived: 189.5 ± 19.5, N = 6 for both groups, P<0.05) and soluble enzyme activity in the medulla oblongata (control: 147.6 ± 16.3, REM sleep-deprived: 163.8 ± 8.3, N = 6 for both groups, P<0.05) were also observed. There were no statistically significant differences in the enzymes activity in the other brain regions assayed. The present findings show that the increase in Achase activity induced by REM sleep deprivation was specific to the pons, a brain region where cholinergic neurons involved in REM generation are located, and also to brain regions which receive cholinergic input from the pons (the thalamus and medulla oblongata). During REM sleep extracellular levels of Ach are higher in the pons, medulla oblongata and thalamus. The increase in Achase activity in these brain areas after REM sleep deprivation suggests a higher rate of Ach turnover.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

“…There are significant differences in Achase activity among discrete regions (8). These differences are also observed in smaller brain areas such as discrete nuclei (9).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Rapid eye movement sleep deprivation induces an increase in acetylcholinesterase activity in discrete rat brain regions

Benedito

Camarini

2001

Braz J Med Biol Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The striatum is one of the richest cholinergic areas in the brain and all cholinergic markers are highly concentrated in this brain region (31,32). The striatum is involved in the control of motor behaviors but its involvement with affective behavior has not yet been described, although Graybiel (33) has raised this possibility.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronic imipramine treatment-induced changes in acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7) activity in discrete rat brain regions

Camarini

Benedito

1997

Braz J Med Biol Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cholinergic as well as monoaminergic neurotransmission seems to be involved in the etiology of affective disorders. Chronic treatment with imipramine, a classical antidepressant drug, induces adaptive changes in monoaminergic neurotransmission. In order to identify possible changes in cholinergic neurotransmission we measured total, membrane-bound and soluble acetylcholinesterase (Achase) activity in several rat brain regions after chronic imipramine treatment. Changes in Achase activity would indicate alterations in acetylcholine (Ach) availability to bind to its receptors in the synaptic cleft. Male rats were treated with imipramine (20 mg/kg, ip) for 21 days, once a day. Twenty-four hours after the last dose the rats were sacrificed and homogenates from several brain regions were prepared. Membranebound Achase activity (nmol thiocholine formed min -1 mg protein -1 ) after chronic imipramine treatment was significantly decreased in the hippocampus (control = 188.8 ± 19.4, imipramine = 154.4 ± 7.5, P<0.005) and striatum (control = 850.9 ± 59.6, imipramine = 742.5 ± 34.7, P<0.005). A small increase in total Achase activity was observed in the medulla oblongata and pons. No changes in enzyme activity were detected in the thalamus or total cerebral cortex. Since the levels of Achase seem to be enhanced through the interaction between Ach and its receptors, a decrease in Achase activity may indicate decreased Ach release by the nerve endings. Therefore, our data indicate that cholinergic neurotransmission is decreased after chronic imipramine treatment which is consistent with the idea of an interaction between monoaminergic and cholinergic neurotransmission in the antidepressant effect of imipramine.

show abstract

“…We have used this technique to estimate the concentration of glucose in 20 regions of the mouse brain (39). After rapid inactivation of the enzymes responsible for glucose metabolism by microwave irradiation (2,3,28,29,34,47,48), the frozen brains were cut coronally in a cryostat. Each region on the section was removed.…”

Section: Combination Of Autoradiography and Biochemical Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%