ISSN:
1471-4159
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract— We have confirmed the finding of Takahashi & Aprison (J. Neurochem.11, 887-898, 1964) that more acetylcholine is found in brains of rats killed by near-freezing compared to decapitation. The radioenzymic assays for acetylcholine and choline of Shea & Aprison (Analyt. Biochem.56, 165-177, 1973) and Goldberg & McCaman (J- Neurochem.20, 1 8, 1973) were used to measure both compounds and gave very similar results. The larger amount of ACh was observed both in powders of frozen rat brain and in homogenates prepared from animals killed by near-freezing. When subcellular fractionation of the homogenates was done in the presence of eserine, the larger amount of ACh was found in the soluble fraction (S2). These results indicated that with the near-freezing method, an extra amount of ACh is preserved in a form that is originally protected from acetylcholinesterase but that becomes esterase-sensitive on fractionation since no differences were observed in P1. P2 or S2 fractions when no eserine was present. The amounts of choline in homogenates and subcellular fractions were also measured after both methods of killing. Differences in the method of killing and postmortem changes which affect the choline values obtained are described.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.1974.tb12221.x
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