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L-glutamate decarboxylase and Choline acetyltransferase activity in the substantia nigra and the striatum after surgical interruption of the strio-nigral fibres of the baboon

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Summary

This study investigated the effect of strio-nigral hemitransection on the enzymes necessary for the synthesis and cataboiism of γ-aminobutyric acid, acetylcholine and dopamine in the caudate nucleus, the putamen, the pallidum and the substantia nigra of the baboon. After transection, more than 70% of the L-glutamate decarboxylase activity was missing from the substantia nigra ipsilateral to the location of the lesions, leaving all remaining regions unchanged. Choline acetyltransferase, acetylcholinesterase and monoaminoxidase activities failed, however, to be affected by the lesions, while glutamic-γ-aminobutyric transaminase was slightly decreased in the substantia nigra. These results strongly support our previous view that the strio-nigral neuron system is primarily an inhibitory one, in which γ-aminobutyric acid plays the role of transmitter. Confirming earlier investigations, a marked reduction of L-DOPA decarboxylase activity was induced by the lesions in the caudate nucleus and the putamen, which indicates that the nigro-striatal neuron system in the baboon is also dopaminergic. Neither the striatum nor the substantia nigra had a markedly diminished acetylcholine content after hemitransection. This strongly suggests that the acetylcholine in the striatum does not depend on the integrity of the strio-nigral connexions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurobiology, Max-Planck-Institut für Hirnforschung, Frankfurt/M-Niederrad, FRG

    K. Kataoka, I. J. Bak, R. Hassler, J. S. Kim & A. Wagner

  2. Department of Physiology, Ehïme University School of Medicine, 790, Matsuyama, Japan

    K. Kataoka

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  1. K. Kataoka
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  2. I. J. Bak
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  3. R. Hassler
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  4. J. S. Kim
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  5. A. Wagner
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Visiting scientist from Department of Physiology, Kyoto University School of Medicine, 606 Kyoto (Japan)

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Kataoka, K., Bak, I.J., Hassler, R. et al. L-glutamate decarboxylase and Choline acetyltransferase activity in the substantia nigra and the striatum after surgical interruption of the strio-nigral fibres of the baboon. Exp. Brain Res. 19, 217–227 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238536

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