Summary
Choline acetyltransferase (CAT) activity was measured in various regions of rat spinal cord. In the ventral cord, enzyme activity was 2 to 3 times higher than in dorsal cord. In dorsal spinal cord, there was a gradient in enzyme activity, increasing CAT activity being observed in more caudal segments. In autonomic regions intermediate levels were measured. Bilateral transection of the sciatic nerve reduced CAT activity in the ventral horn of lumbar spinal cord, whereas CAT activity in the dorsal horn remained unchanged. Capsaicin pretreatment had no effect on CAT activity in any spinal cord region. Although a similar distribution of cholinergic neurones and primary afferent endings in rat dorsal spinal cord was described, no conclusive statement as to a possible functional interaction can be given.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barber RP, Phelps PE, Houser CR, Crawford GD, Salvaterra PM, Vaughn JE (1984) The morphology and distribution of neurons containing choline acetyltransferase in the adult rat spinal cord: an immunocytochemical study. J Comp Neurol 229: 329–346
Brown AG (1981) The terminations of cutaneous nerve fibres in the spinal cord. TINS 4: 64–67
Cervero F, Iggo A (1980) The substantia gelatinosa of the spinal cord. A critical review. Brain 103: 717–772
Cervero F, Sharkey KA (1985) More than just gut feelings about visceral sensation. TINS 8: 188–190
Donnerer J, Lembeck F (1982) Analysis of the effects of intravenously injected capsaicin in the rat. Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 320: 54–57
Houser CR, Crawford GD, Barber RP, Salvaterra PM, Vaughn JE (1983) Organization and morphological characteristics of cholinergic neurons: an immunocytochemical study with a monoclonal antibody to choline acetyltransferase. Brain Res 266: 97–119
Kanazawa I, Sutoo D, Oshima I, Saito S (1979) Effect of transection on choline acetyltransferase, thyrotropin releasing hormone and substance P in the cat cervical spinal cord. Neurosci Lett 13: 325–330
Kelly JS, Gottesfeld Z, Schon F (1973) Reduction in GAD I activity from the dorsal lateral region of the deafferented rat spinal cord. Brain Res 62: 581–586
Kimura H, McGeer PL, Peng JH, McGeer EG (1981) The central cholinergic system studied by choline acetyltransferase immunohistochemistry in the cat. J Comp Neurol 200: 151–201
Lembeck F, Skofitsch G (1982) Visceral pain reflex after pretreatment with capsaicin and morphine. Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 321: 116–122
Light AR, Perl ER (1979) Spinal termination of functionally identified primary afferent neurons with slowly conducting myelinated fibers. J Comp Neurol 186: 133–150
Lorez HP, Haeusler G, Aeppli L (1983) Substance P neurones in medullary baroreflex areas and baroreflex function of capsaicin-treated rats. Comparison with other primary afferent systems. Neuroscience 8: 507–523
Markwell MAK, Haas SM, Bieber LL, Tolbert NE (1978) A modification of the Lowry procedure to simplify protein determination in membrane and lipoprotein samples. Anal Biochem 87: 206–210
McCaman RE, Hunt JM (1965) Microdetermination of choline acetylase in nervous tissue. J Neurochem 12: 253–259
McIntyre AK (1974) Central actions of impulses in muscle afferent fibres. In: Hunt CC (ed) Muscle receptors. Handbook of sensory physiology vol III/2. Springer, New York Berlin Heidelberg, pp 235–288
Nagy JI (1982) Capsaicin: a chemical probe for sensory neuron mechanisms. In: Iversen LL, Iversen SD, Snyder SH (eds) Handbook of psychopharmacology, vol 15. Plenum Publ Corp, New York, pp 185–235
Ninkovic M, Hunt SP (1983)α-Bungarotoxin binding sites on sensory neurones and their axonal transport in sensory afferents. Brain Res 272: 57–69
Ogawa T, Kanazawa I, Kimura S (1985) Regional distribution of substance P, neurokininα and neurokininβ in rat spinal cord, nerve roots and dorsal root ganglia, and the effects of dorsal root section or spinal transection. Brain Res 359: 152–157
Sachs L (1982) Applied statistics. A handbook of techniques. In: Brillinger D, Fienberg S, Gani J, Hartigan J, Kiefer J, Kriekeberg K (eds) Springer series in statistics. Springer, New York Berlin Heidelberg
Scheibel ME, Scheibel AB (1968) Terminal axonal patterns in cat spinal cord. II. The dorsal horn. Brain Res 9: 32–58
Scheibel ME, Scheibel AB (1969) Terminal patterns in cat spinal cord. III. Primary afferent collaterals. Brain Res 13: 417–443
Sperk G, Lassmann H, Baran H, Kish SJ, Seitelberger F, Hornykiewicz O (1983) Kainic acid induced seizures: neurochemical and histopathological changes. Neuroscience 10: 1301–1315
Stine SM, Yang H-J, Costa E (1982) Evidence for ascending and descending intraspinal as well as primary sensory somatostatin projections in the rat spinal cord. J Neurochem 38: 1144–1150
Virus RM, Knuepfer MM, McManus DQ, Brody MJ, Gebhart GF (1981) Capsaicin treatment in adult Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats: effects on nociceptive behaviour and cardiovascular regulation. Eur J Pharmacol 72: 209–217
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Holzer-Petsche, U., Rinner, I. & Lembeck, F. Distribution of choline acetyltransferase activity in rat spinal cord — Influence of primary afferents?. J. Neural Transmission 66, 85–92 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01260904
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01260904