Altered distribution of choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase activities in the developing rat dentate gyrus following entorhinal lesion

doi:10.1016/0006-8993(73)90090-5

Brain Research

Volume 63, 7 December 1973, Pages 215-230

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(73)90090-5 Get rights and content

Abstract

The entorhinal cortex of rats was removed unilaterally at the age of 11 days. At various times after the lesion was performed, the response of the cholinergic septohippocampal innervation of the ipsilateral dentate gyrus was assessed by quantitative enzyme histochemistry. Laminar analysis revealed that, within 5 days, the absolute and specific activities of choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase became significantly elevated in the outer part of the molecular layer on the operated side relative to the corresponding zone on the control side. These differences between the two sides were greatly reduced or abolished before the animals reached maturity.

We propose that these acute neurochemical adjustments in the dentate gyrus reflected formation of an increased number of cholinergic synaptic terminals in partial compensation for lack of entorhinal input. We further suggest that the ability of these additional terminals to synthesize transmitter was eventually reduced, and thus they may have become functionally less effective.

Additionally, the lesion produced a chronic, bilateral depletion of acetylcholinesterase activity. Between 32 and 80 days after the entorhinal cortex was removed, the specific activity of this enzyme was reduced, in all laminae, to 40% of values in unoperated animals. Such neurochemical changes may play a role in recovery of the central nervous system from damage.

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Altered distribution of choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase activities in the developing rat dentate gyrus following entorhinal lesion

Abstract

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The use of a selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitor in the estimation of pseudocholinesterase activity in rat brain

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