Immunohistochemical staining of cholinergic neurons in the human brain using a polyclonal antibody to human choline acetyltransferase

Biochemical, physiological, pharmacological, and more recently enzyme histo- chemical data have indicated that cholinergic circuits exist in the hypothalamus. Ultrastructural correlates of these pathways such as acetylcholinesterase (AchE) positive neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and stained terminals in the median eminence (ME) have yet to be described. Initial studies in our laboratories utilizing chemical lesioning and microdissection techniques coupled with microchemical and light microscopic enzyme histo- chemical studies suggested the existence of cholinergic neurons in the ARC which project to the ME (1). Furthermore, in adult male rats with Halasz deafferentations (hypothalamic islands composed primarily of the isolated ARC and the ME) choline acetyltransferase (ChAc) activity, a good marker for cholinergic neurons, was not significantly reduced in the ME and was only somewhat reduced in the ARC (2). Treatment of neonatal rats with high doses of monosodium 1-glutamate (MSG) results in a lesion largely restricted to the neurons of the ARC.

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Studies on choline acetyltransferase isolated from human brain

Neurochemical Research ◽

10.1007/bf00969358 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 281-291 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Vijendra K. Singh ◽

Patrick L. McGeer

Keyword(s):

Human Brain ◽

Choline Acetyltransferase

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Choline acetyltransferase immunohistochemical staining in the goldfish (Carassius auratus) brain: Evidence that the Mauthner cell does not contain choline acetyltransferase

Brain Research ◽

10.1016/0006-8993(86)90070-3 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 381 (2) ◽

pp. 215-224 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Kenneth J. Rhodes ◽

Steven J. Zottoli ◽

Elliott J. Mufson

Keyword(s):

Choline Acetyltransferase ◽

Immunohistochemical Staining ◽

Carassius Auratus ◽

Mauthner Cell ◽

Goldfish Carassius Auratus

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CHOLINE ACETYLTRANSFERASE ACTIVITY OF HUMAN BRAIN TISSUE DURING DEVELOPMENT AND AT MATURITY

Journal of Neurochemistry ◽

10.1111/j.1471-4159.1970.tb00518.x ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 17 (10) ◽

pp. 1505-1516 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

G Bull ◽

Catherine Hebb ◽

Dobrila Ratković

Keyword(s):

Human Brain ◽

Brain Tissue ◽

Choline Acetyltransferase ◽

Human Brain Tissue ◽

Acetyltransferase Activity ◽

Choline Acetyltransferase Activity

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Effects of altered cholinergic function on working and reference memory in the rat

Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology ◽

10.1139/y86-061 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 64 (3) ◽

pp. 376-382 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Richard J. Beninger ◽

B. A. Wirsching ◽

Khem Jhamandas ◽

Roland J. Boegman ◽

Sherif R. El-Defrawy

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Choline Acetyltransferase ◽

Radial Maze ◽

Cholinergic Neurons ◽

Reference Memory ◽

Nucleus Basalis ◽

Nucleus Basalis Magnocellularis ◽

Memory Errors ◽

Biochemical Assays ◽

Alternation Task

Many data suggest that the brain's cholinergic neurons participate in the control of memory and it has been suggested that cholinergic systems are involved differentially in working and reference memory. To test this hypothesis the effects on memory of unilateral injections of the neurotoxins, quinolinic acid or kainic acid into the cortically projecting cholinergic cells of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (nbm) were evaluated. In experiment 1, quinolinate-injected (n = 7) and sham-operated (n = 7) rats were tested in a T-maze alternation task that requires working memory. Lesion rats performed significantly more poorly than shams and subsequent biochemical assays of cortical choline acetyltransferase (CAT) activity revealed significant reductions in the lesion rats. In experiment 2, kainate-injected (n = 9) and sham-operated (n = 8) rats were trained in an eight-arm radial maze with only four arms baited. Lesion rats made significantly more working memory errors (entries into baited arms from which the food had already been collected) than reference memory errors (entries into never baited arms). CAT assays showed that the lesion led to a decrease in cortical CAT with no significant change in hippocampal CAT. The results of these studies support the hypothesis that cholinergic neurons of the basocortical system may be differentially involved in working and reference memory.

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