CYTOCHEMICAL AND IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL DEMONSTRATION OF ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE OF THE PRENATAL RAT LOWER-LIMB

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities in the prenatal rat lower limb were investigated by both cytochemistry and immunocytochemistry. Resul ts indicate that the epidermal cells show immunoreactions of AChE at a limited stage at prenatal day 15, and mesenchymal cells which are occ asionally in contact with the basal lamina or with the adjacent myotub es begin to show AChE activities at prenatal day 17. Such AChE-positiv e mesenchymal cells, involved in the formation of the muscular tissues , have almost disappeared in the subepidermis by prenatal day 19. This suggests that AChE independent of the neuromuscular system may be inv olved in the mesenchymal cell differentiation especially in the induct ive process during myogenesis.