Summary
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAc) were studied in the vagus and hypoglossal nerve of the rabbit. Under normal conditions the activity of AChE was about twice as high in the vagus as in the hypoglossal nerve. The activity of ChAc, however, was about six times as high in the hypoglossal nerve as in the vagus.
When the axons had been crushed by a ligature, the enzymes accumulated proximal to the ligature, presumably a reflection of a proximo-distal transport from the nerve cell soma. The transport velocity, as calculated from the rate of accumulation was highest in the vagus nerve both for AChE and ChAc. Approximately the same rates were observed for both enzymes, i.e., 15 mm/24 h in the vagus nerve and 5 mm/24 h in the hypoglossal nerve. These rates were of the same order as those previously observed for the slow axoplasmic transport of radioactively labelled proteins in unligated nerve.
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Frizell, M., Hasselgren, P.O. & Sjöstrand, J. Axoplasmic transport of acetylcholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase in the vagus and hypoglossal nerve of the rabbit. Exp Brain Res 10, 526–531 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234268
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234268