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Histochemically demonstrable catecholamines and cholinesterases in nerve fibres of rat dorsal skin

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Summary

Histochemically demonstrable cholinesterases of rat skin and cutaneous nerves hydrolyze acetylthiocholine iodide and butyrylthiocholine iodide. Cholinesterase activity of the skin was located in the epidermis, in the hair follicles at the level of the sebaceous glands, in adjacent parts of the sebaceous glands, in erector pili muscles and their nerves, in cutaneous and subcutaneous nerves and nerve trunks, including some nerves accompanying cutaneous blood vessels, and in the membranes of fat cells. No encapsulated nerve endings were found. In the nerves of erector pili muscles there was some neurilemmal non-specific cholinesterase activity, demonstrated in the presence of 10−5 M BW 284C 51, and specific acetylcholinesterase activity resistant to 10−5 M iso-OMPA. The cholinesterase activity in other cutaneous nerves was inhibited by 10−5 M iso-OMPA but was resistant to 10−5 M BW284 C 51, thus representing mainly non-specifc cholinesterase (nsChE) activity.

The adrenergic nerves of the dorsal skin, as revealed by glyoxylic acid-induced fluorescence (GIF), were located in association with erector pili muscles and surrounded arteries and arterioles. Small fluorescent nerves were situated in subcutaneous nsChE-positive nerve trunks.

Using GIF and cholinesterase techniques performed either simultaneously or consecutively, it was found that the nsChE-positive, probably sensory, nerves accompanying blood vessels were fewer in number than the fluorescent adrenergic nerves and ran a course independent of them. No cholinesterase reaction was seen in the fluorescent adrenergic nerves when short incubation times were used. When the incubation time was prolonged overnight, the nsChE reaction closely followed the course of fluorescent adrenergic nerves.

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  1. Department of Anatomy, University of Helsinki, Siltavuorenpenger 20, SF-00170, Helsinki 17, Finland

    Timo Waris & Leena Rechardt

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  1. Timo Waris
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Waris, T., Rechardt, L. Histochemically demonstrable catecholamines and cholinesterases in nerve fibres of rat dorsal skin. Histochemistry 53, 203–216 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00511076

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