title: Ultrastructural changes in acetylcholinesterase activity in the deafferented spinal trigeminal nucleus.
abstract: Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was investigated in synaptic areas of the cat spinal trigeminal nucleus (pars interpolaris and pars caudalis) ipsilateral and contralateral to complete retrogasserian rhizotomy. Vibratome sections of tissue taken from animals of 1, 3, 6, 14, and 21 days survival were examined by electron microscopy following a histochemical reaction for AChE activity employing a method based on the Karnovsky-Roots technique for demonstrating reaction product. As degeneration progressed with survival time, enzymatic activity was initially reduced in synaptic clefts of injured afferent terminals and subsequently was enhanced throughout the extracellular space, including within synaptic clefts of possibly reinnervated sites. These changes in enzymatic activity with primary deafferentation are discussed in relation to the process of reinnervation, the development of neuronal hyperactivity, and possible noncholinergic functions of AChE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98195.
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Westrum
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Broderson
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013569:Synapses / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013997:Time Factors; D014279:Trigeminal Nucleus, Spinal / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase