Summary
The influence of descending bulbospinal monoamine (MA) neurons on the intra-axonal transport of acetylcholine (ACh) and related enzymes (cholineacetyltransferase, CAT, and ACh-esterase, AChE) in rat sciatic nerve was studied in crush experiments following intracisternal injections of specific neurotoxins. The injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OH-DA) and 5, 6-dihydroxytryptamine (5, 6-diOH-TA) (50μg×2) caused a degeneration of catecholamine (CA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) nerve terminals, respectively, and a combination of the two neurotoxins caused a loss of virtually all MA terminals in the lumbar spinal cord. The results of the neurotoxin injections were controlled by the Falck-Hillarp fluorescence method. The effect of neurotoxin treatment on the enzyme activities in the sciatic nerve was very small. The ACh levels of uncrushed nerves and in nerves proximal to a crush performed 12 hours before dissection decreased following either 6-OH-DA or 5, 6-diOH-TA. However, the combined treatment with both 6-OH-DA and 5, 6-diOH-TA had no influence on ACh accumulation and transport, as compared to the control group.
In a previous study we have shown that mid-thoracic spinal cord transection increased AChE-transport while ACh-transport was decreased. The results of this study indicate that the bulbospinal MA neurons may be involved (perhaps indirectly) in the regulation of ACh levels and transport in motor neurons, but less important for the modulation of the cholinergic enzymes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andén, N.-E.: Discussion of serotonin and dopamine in the extrapyramidal system. Advanc. Pharmacol.6A, 347–349 (1968).
Andén, N.-E., Corrodi, H., Fuxe, K.: Hallucinogenic drugs of the indolealkylamine type and central monoamine neurons. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.179, 236–249 (1971).
Andén, N.-E., Jukes, M. G. M., Lundberg, A., Vyklicky, L.: The effect of DOPA on the spinal cord. 3. Depolarization evoked in central terminals of ipsilateral Ia afferents by volleys in the flexor reflex afferents. Acta Physiol. Scand.68, 322–336 (1966).
Barasi, S., Roberts, M. H. T.: The action of 5-hydroxytryptamine antagonists and precursors on bulbospinal facilitation of spinal reflexes. Brain Res.52, 385–388 (1973).
Bisby, N. A., Bulger, V. T.: Reversal of axonal transport at a nerve crush. J. Neurochem.29, 313–320 (1977).
Björklund, A. J., Emson, P. C., Gilbert, R. F. T., Skagerberg, G.: Further evidence for the possible coexistence of 5-hydroxytryptamine and substance P in medullary raphe neurones of rat brain. Brit. J. Pharmacol.66, 112P-113P (1979).
Blaber, L. C., Cuthbert, A. W.: A sensitive method for the assay of acetylcholine. J. Pharm. Pharmac.13, 445–446 (1961).
Bulger, V. T., Bisby, M. A.: Reversal of axonal transport in regenerating nerves. J. Neurochem.31, 1411–1418 (1978).
Bööj, S., Dahlström, A., Larsson, P.-A., Rosander, K., Rosengren, B.: Effects of proton irradiation of the lumbar intumescence on intra-axonal transport of acetylcholine and cholinergic enzymes in rat sciatic nerve. Acta Radiologica19, 387–393 (1981).
Corrodi, H., Jonsson, G.: The formaldehyde fluorescence method for the histochemical demonstration of biogenic monoamines. A review on the methodology. J. Histochem. Cytochem.15, 65–78 (1967).
Dahlström, A.: Axoplasmic transport (with particular respect to adrenergic neurones). Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. (Lond.)B 261, 325–358 (1971).
Dahlström, A., Fuxe, K.: Evidence for the existence of monoamine neurons in the central nervous system. II. Experimentally induced changes in the intraneuronal amine levels of bulbo-spinal neuron systems. Acta Physiol. Scand.64, Suppl. 247, 1–36 (1965).
Dahlström, A., Evans, C. A. N., Häggendal, J., Heiwall, P.-O., Saunders, N.: Rapid transport of acetylcholine in rat sciatic nerve proximal and distal to a lesion. J. Neural Transm.35, 1–10 (1974).
Dahlström, A., Heiwall, P.-O., Bööj, S., Dahllöf, A.-G.: 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 (1978).
Engberg, I., Ryall, R. W.: The inhibitory action of noradrenaline and other monoamines on spinal neurones. J. Physiol.185, 298–322 (1966).
Feldberg, W.: Synthesis of acetylcholine in sympathetic ganglia and cholinergic nerves. J. Physiol.101, 432–445 (1943).
Fonnum, F.: Choline acetyltransferase binding to and release from membranes. Biochem. J.109, 389–391 (1968).
Heslop, J. P.: Axonal flow and fast transport in nerves. In: Adv. Comp. Physiol. Biochem., Vol. 6, pp. 75–163. New York-San Francisco-London: 1975.
Lubińska, L.: Region of transition between preserved and regenerating parts of myelinated nerve fibres. J. Comp. Neurol.113, 315–335 (1959).
Mac Intosh, F. C., Perry, W. L. M.: Biological estimation of acetylcholine. Meth. Med. Res.3, 78–92 (1950).
Nygren, L.-G., Olson, L.: A new major projection from locus coeruleus: The main source of noradrenergic nerve terminals in the ventral and dorsal columns of the spinal cord. Brain Res.132, 85–93 (1977).
Ochs, S.: Fast transport of materials in mammalian nerve fibres. Science176, 252–260 (1972).
Ochs, S.: Fast axoplasmic transport in the fibres of chromatolyzed neurones. J. Physiol. (Lond.)255, 249–261 (1976).
Saunders, N. R., Dziegielewska, K., Häggendal, J., Dahlström, A.: Slow accumulation of choline acetyltransferase in crushed sciatic nerves of the rat. J. Neurobiol.4, 95–103 (1973).
Sastry, B. S. R., Sinclair, J. G.: Serotonin involvement in the blockade of bulbospinal inhibition of the spinal monosynaptic reflex. Brain Res.115, 427–436 (1976).
Schwartz, J. H.: Axonal transport: components, mechanisms and specificity. Ann. Rev. Neurosci.2, 467–504 (1979).
Skrangiel-Kramska, J., Niemierko, S., Lubińska, L.: Comparison of the behavior of a soluble and membrane-bound enzyme in transected peripheral nerves. J. Neurochem.16, 921–926 (1969).
Tuček, S.: Transport and changes of activity of choline acetyltransferase in the peripheral stump of an interrupted nerve. Brain Res.82, 249–261 (1974).
Tuček, S.: Transport of choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase in the central stump and isolated segments of a peripheral nerve. Brain Res.86, 259–270 (1975).
Younkin, S. G., Brett, R. S., Davey, B., Younkin, L. H.: Substances moved by axonal transport and released by nerve stimulation have an innervation-like effect on muscle. Science200, 1292–1295 (1978).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bööj, S., Dahllöf, A.G., Larsson, P.A. et al. Influence of descending bulbospinal monoamine neurons on axonal transport of acetylcholine and cholinergic enzymes. J. Neural Transmission 52, 213–225 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01249605
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01249605