Immunohistochemical demonstration of choline acetyltransferase of a peripheral type (pChAT) in the enteric nervous system of rats

Citation
K. Nakajima et al., Immunohistochemical demonstration of choline acetyltransferase of a peripheral type (pChAT) in the enteric nervous system of rats, J CHEM NEUR, 18(1-2), 2000, pp. 31-40
Citations number
41
Categorie Soggetti
Neurosciences & Behavoir
Journal title
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL NEUROANATOMY
ISSN journal
08910618 → ACNP
Volume
18
Issue
1-2
Year of publication
2000
Pages
31 - 40
Database
ISI
SICI code
0891-0618(200002)18:1-2<31:IDOCAO>2.0.ZU;2-U
Abstract
Using a recently developed antiserum against a splice variant (pChAT) of ch oline acetyltransferase, the enzyme which synthesizes acetylcholine, we car ried out an immunohistochemical examination in the digestive canal of rats. Positive staining was exclusively localized to neuronal cells and fibers. Positive somata were distributed widely in the intramural ganglia throughou t the digestive tract from the esophagus to the rectum. Double staining ind icated that, in the rat, virtually all pChAT immunoreactive somata exhibite d histochemical activity for acetylcholinesterase but not for NADPH-diaphor ase. In the guinea pig, however, there were a few neurons possessing both p ChAT and NADPH-diaphorase. We also found a few neuronal somata which were p ositive for acetylcholinesterase but not for pChAT. The results suggest tha t pChAT immunohistochemistry is useful for studying the enteric cholinergic system. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.