Summary
Changes in the activity of monoamine oxidase (MAO) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) following unilateral eye enucleation were measured for the superior colliculus (SC), lateral geniculate body (LGB), and nucleus suprachiasmaticus (NSC) in the rat by means of microspectrophotometry. The most conspicuous change of high significance was the decrease of MAO activity in the superficial strata of the SC contralateral to the enucleated eye. The other layers of SC, such as the stratum opticum, the intermediate strata, the deep strata and the central gray did not show significant postoperative changes in MAO activity. MAO activity of the LGB and the NSC was also not affected to a significant degree. The site of decrease of MAO activity in the superficial strata of the SC should be degenerating optic nerve terminals. The strong AChE activity in the superficial strata may be derived from the horizontal cells. AChE activity in the SC showed only slight postoperative changes. The possible roles of the monoaminergic and cholinergic systems in the process of visual information are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blaschko, H.: The natural history of amine oxidases. Rev. Physiol. Biochem. Pharmacol. 70, 83–148 (1974)
Cajal, S. Ramón y: Histologie du système nerveux de l'homme et des vertébrés. II. Madrid: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas 1972
Ehinger, B.: Adrenergic retinal neurons. Z. Zellforsch. 71, 146–152 (1966)
Fukuda, Y., Stone, J.: Retinal distribution and central projection of Y-, X-, and W-cells of the cat's retina. J. Neurophysiol. 37, 749–772 (1974)
Fukuda, Y., Suzuki, A.D.: Neuronal analysis of the superficial strata of superior colliculus in the rat. J. Physiol. Soc. Jap. 38, 130 (1976)
Fukui, K., Vogt, M.: Increase by visual stimuli in turnover of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the superior colliculi of the rabbit. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 254, 519–529 (1976)
Fuxe, K.: The distribution of monoamine terminals in the central nervous system. Acta physiol. scand. 64 Suppl. 247, 37–84 (1965)
Glenner, G.G., Burtner, H.J., Brown, G.R.: The histochemical demonstration of monoamine oxidase activity by tetrazolium salts. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 5, 591–600 (1957)
Hebb, C.O.: Choline acetylase in mammalian and avian sensory systems. Quart. J. exp. Physiol. 40, 176–186 (1955)
Hoffmann, K.-P.: Conduction velocity in pathways from retina to superior colliculus in the cat: a correlation with receptive-field properties. J. Neurophysiol. 36, 409–424 (1973)
Karnovsky, M.J.: The localization of cholinesterase activity in rat cardiac muscle by electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 23, 217–232 (1964)
Kawai, N.: Release of 5-hydroxytryptamine from slices of superior colliculus by optic tract stimulation. Neuropharmacology 9, 395–397 (1970)
Kawai, N., Yamamoto, C.: Effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine, LSD and related compounds on electrical activities evoked in vitro in thin sections from the superior colliculus. Int. J. Neuropharmacol. 8, 437–449 (1969)
Koelle, G.B.: The histochemical localization of cholinesterase in the central nervous system of the rat. J. comp. Neurol. 100, 211–228 (1954)
Lund, R.D.: Uncrossed visual pathways of hooded and albino rats. Science 149, 1506–1507 (1965)
Lund, R.D.: Synaptic patterns of the superficial layers of the superior colliculus of the rat. J. comp. Neurol. 135, 179–208 (1969)
Manocha, S.L., Shantha, T.R.: Macaca mulatta. Enzyme histochemistry of the nervous system. New York-London: Academic Press 1970
Miller, E., Heller, A., Moore, R.Y.: Acetylcholine in rabbit visual system nuclei after enucleation and visual cortex ablation. J. Pharm. exp. Ther. 165, 117–125 (1969)
Moore, R.Y., Lenn, N.J.: A retinohypothalamic projection in the rat. J. comp. Neurol. 146, 1–14 (1972)
Pellegrino de Iraldi, A., Etcheverry, G.J.: Granulated vesicles in retinal synapses and neurons. Z. Zellforsch. 81, 283–296 (1967)
Phillis, J.W.: The pharmacology of synapses. Oxford: Pergamon Press 1970
Polz-Tejera, C., Schmidt, J., Karton, H.J.: Autoradiographic localization of α-bungarotoxin binding sites in the central nervous system. Nature (Lond.) 258, 349–351 (1975)
Ramon-Moliner, E.: Acetylthiocholinesterase distribution in the brain stem of the cat. Adv. Anat. Embryol. Cell Biol. 46, 1–53 (1972)
Straschill, M., Perwein, J.: Effect of iontophoretically applied biogenic amines and of cholinomimetic substances upon the activity of neurons in the superior colliculus and mesencephalic reticular formation of the cat. Pflügers Arch. 324, 43–55 (1971)
Sumitomo, I., Ide, K., Iwama, K., Arikuni, T.: Conduction velocity of optic nerve fibers innervating lateral geniculate body and superior colliculus in the rat. Exp. Neurol. 25, 378–392 (1969)
Swanson, L.W., Hartman, B.K.: The central adrenergic system. An immunofluorescence study of the location of cell bodies and their efferent connections in the rat utilizing dopamine-β-hydroxylase as a marker. J. comp. Neurol. 163, 467–506 (1975)
Tsang, Y.: Visual centers in blinded rats. J. comp. Neurol. 66, 211–261 (1937)
Urano, A.: Monoamine oxidase in the hypothalamic neurosecretory system and the adenohypophysis of the Japanese quail and mouse. J. Fac. Sci., Univ. Tokyo, IV, 11, 437–451 (1968)
Wenisch, H.J.C.: Retinohypothalamic projection in the mouse: Electron microscopic and iontophoretic investigations of hypothalamic and optic centers. Cell Tiss. Res. 167, 547–561 (1976)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
I wish to thank Miss Naoko Sekijima for her histological work, and Miss Emiko Iseki and Miss Makiko Ogoshi for their assistance in preparing the manuscript
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Urano, A. Effects of the eye enucleation on the activity of monoamine oxidase and acetylcholinesterase in the superior colliculus of the rat. Cell Tissue Res. 179, 331–345 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00221104
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00221104