ISSN:
1432-1912
Keywords:
Key words Primary cultures
;
Rat astrocytes
;
Microglia
;
Acetylcholine
;
Choline acetyltransferase
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract In the present study we demonstrate that acetylcholine is synthesized by cultured mammalian glial cells identified by cell-type specific markers. Primary cultures of rat brain astrocytes or microglia contained 2.0 and 1.6 pmol acetylcholine/106 cells on average respectively. Astrocyte cultures established from neonatal mouse brain contained even more acetylcholine (about 80 pmol acetylcholine/106 cells). Primary cultures of rat brain astrocytes showed choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) enzyme activity of 3 nmol/mg protein/h; ChAT activity was blocked by 10 μM bromoacetylcholine. In conclusion, these data demonstrate the synthesis of the “neurotransmitter” acetylcholine in cultured glial cells, a finding which opens a new view upon the role of acetylcholine in mammalian brain.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/PL00005107
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