Summary
This study was performed to investigate how much of the acetylcholine (ACh), cholineacetyltransferase (ChAT) and ACh-esterase (AChE) in the rat sciatic nerve originate from the somatic motor input and from the automatic sympathetic input, respectively. The somatic motor axons to the sciatic nerve were eliminated by surgical transsection of the spinal roots, (rhizotomy) and the autonomie component was removed by surgical resection of the lumber sympathetic chain bilateraly (sympathectomy). Also combined operations were performed.
In intact (non-crushed) sciatic nerve rhizotomy caused a reduction in ACh content by 70%, in ChAT-activity by 55%, and in AChE-activity by 41%. Sympathectomy alone had very little influence on ACh and ChAT, but reduced AChE by 20%. After crushing the nerve 13 hours before sacrifice, all three substances accumulated proximal to the crush region as described previously. When compared to the control group, sympathectomy alone caused a reduction in accumulated amounts of AChE only, while ACh and ChAT accumulations were essentially unchanged. Rhizotomy alone caused a substantial reduction in accumulated amounts of all three substances, but most prominently in ACh and ChAT-amounts. After symphathectomy in combination with rhizotomy ACh-accumulations were very low, and enzyme activities were reduced more than in the group with rhizotomy alone. A certain amount of residual ChAT and AChE was present in the nerve, and the location of this is discussed. The fact that combined sympathectomy and rhizotomy lowered ACh accumulations significantly more than would be expected from the results after either operation alone is commented upon.
The results thus indicate that the major part of ACh enzymes in rat sciatic nerve is located in somatic motor axons. Very little ACh and ChAT, but about 20% of the ACh E is confined to the sympathetic axons. Some extraneuronal enzyme appears to be present.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blaber LC, Cuthbert AW (1961) A sensitive method for the assay of acetylcholine. J Pharm Pharmacol 13: 445–446
Brimijoin S, Wiermaa MJ (1977) Rapid axonal transport of acetylcholinesterase. Eight ann meet of the am soc of neurochem, Denver, Colorado, p 253
Dahlström A (1983) Presence, metabolism, and axonal transport of transmitters in peripheral mammalian axons. In: Lajtha A (ed) Metabolic turnover in the nervous system. Plenum Press, New York, London, pp 405–441 (Handbook of neurochemistry, vol 5.)
Dahlström AB, Evans CAN, Häggendal CJ, Heiwall P-O, Saunders NR (1974 a) Rapid transport of acetylcholine in rat sciatic nerve proximal and distal to a lesion. J Neural Transm 35: 1–11
Dahlström A, Häggendal J, Heilbronn E, Heiwall P-O, Saunders NR (1974 b) Proximodistal transport of acetylcholine in peripheral cholinergic neurons. In: Fuxe K, Olson L, Zotterman Y (eds) Dynamics of degeneration and growth in neurons. Pergamon Press, Oxford New York, pp 275–289
Dahlström A, Heiwall P-O, Bööj S, Dahlöf A-G (1978) The influence of supraspinal impulse activity on the intra-axonal transport of acetylcholine, choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase in rat motor neurons. Acta physiol scand 103: 308–319
Dahlström A, Larsson PA, Carlson SS, Bööj S (1985) Localization and axonal transport of immunoreactive cholinergic organelles in rat motor neurons — an immunofluorescent study. Neuroscience 14: 607–625
Gruber H, Zenker W (1973) Acetylcholinesterase: histochemical differentiation between motor and sensory nerve fibres. Brain Res 51: 207–214
Häggendal J, Saunders N, Dahlström A (1971) Rapid accumulation of acetylcholine in nerve above a crush. J Pharm Pharmacol 23: 552–554
Kása P, Mann SP, Sarolta K, Toth L, Jordan S (1973) Transport of choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase in the rat sciatic nerve: a biochemical and electron histochemical study. J Neurochem 21: 431–436
Lubińska L (1959) Region of transition between preserved and regenerating parts of myelinated nerve fibres. J Comp Neurol 113: 315–335
Lubińska L, Niemierko S (1971) Velocity and intensity of bidirectional migration of acetylcholinesterase in transected nerves. Brain Res 27: 329–342
Lundberg JM, Hökfelt T, Schultzberg M, Uvnäs-Wallensten K, Köhler C, Said SI (1979) Occurrence of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-like immunoreactivity in certain cholinergic neurons of the cat. Evidence from combined immunohistochemistry and acetylcholinesterase staining. Neuroscience 4: 1539–1559
Miledi R, Molenaar PC, Polak RL (1980) The effect of lanthanum ions on acetylcholine in frog muscle. J Physiol 309: 199–214
Parnavelas J, Kelly W, Burnstock GB (1985) Ultrastructural localization of choline acetyltransferase in vascular endothelial cells in rat brain. Nature 316 No 6030: 724–725
Saunders N, Dziegielewska K, Häggendal J, Dahlström A (1973) Slow accumulation of choline acetyltransferase in crushed sciatic nerves of the rat. J Neurobiol 4: 95–103
Tuček S (1974) Transport and changes of acitivity of choline acetyltransferase in the peripheral stump of an interrupted nerve. Brain Res 82: 249–261
Tuček S (1975) Transport of choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase in the central stump and isolated segments of a peripheral nerve. Brain Res 86: 259–270
Wooten GF, Cheng C-H (1980) Transport and turnover of acetylcholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase in rat sciatic nerve and skeletal muscle. J Neurochem 34: 359–366
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bööj, S., Dahllöf, A.G., Larsson, P.A. et al. The contribution of cholinergic enzymes and acetylcholine from the lumbar sympathetic chain to the rat sciatic nerve. J. Neural Transmission 67, 163–174 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01243345
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01243345