ISSN:
1471-4159
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract: γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) was applied to the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) of CFY rats in vitro and in vivo, with or without implantation of a hypoglossal nerve, to evaluate the effects of these experimental interventions on the acetylcholine (ACh) system, which mainly serves the synaptic transmission of the preganglionic input. Long-lasting GABA microinfusion into the SCG in vivo apparently resulted in a “functional denervation.”This treatment reduced the acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7) activity by 30% (p 〈 0.01) and transiently increased the number of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, but had no significant effect on the choline acetyltransferase (acetyl-coenzyme A:choline-O-acetyl-transferase; EC 2.3.1.6) activity, the ACh level, or the number of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. The relative amounts of the different molecular forms of AChE did not change under these conditions. In vivo GABA application to the SCG with a hypoglossal nerve implanted in the presence of intact preganglionic afferent synapses exerted a significant modulatory effect on the AChE activity and its molecular forms. The “hyperin-nervation”of the ganglia led to increases in the AChE activity (to 142.5%, p 〈 0.01) and the 16S molecular form (to 200%, p 〈 0.01). It is concluded that in vivo GABA microinfusion and GABA treatment in the presence of additional cholinergic synapses has a modulatory effect on the elements of the ACh system in the SCG of CFY rats.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.1985.tb08771.x
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