The role of post-synaptic neurones in the biochemical maturation of presynaptic cholinergic nerve terminals in a mouse sympathetic ganglion.
1. The role of post-synaptic adrenergic neurones in the biochemical maturation of presynaptic cholinergic nerve terminals has been investigated in mouse superior cervical ganglion in vivo.2. Selective destruction of ganglion adrenergic neurones chemically, with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OH-DA), or immunologically, with nerve growth factor antiserum (NGF-antiserum) prevented the normal maturation of choline acetyl transferase (ChAc) activity in presynaptic endings during development. Enzyme activity remained depressed for at least 2 months.3. 6-OH-DA treatment failed to alter ChAc activity in the developing duodenum or diaphragm, organs in which cholinergic fibres do not synapse with adrenergic neurones, suggesting that destruction of post-synaptic neurones per se inhibited presynaptic maturation.4. Similarly, NGF-antiserum, which does not destroy adrenergic neurones in the adult did not alter ChAc activity in adult mouse ganglia.5. These observations suggest that post-synaptic adrenergic neurones regulate the biochemical development of presynaptic cholinergic nerve terminals.
D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002794:Choline; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000294:innervation; D004386:Duodenum / Q000294:innervation; D005260:Female; D005725:Ganglia, Autonomic / Q000254:growth & development*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007106:Immune Sera; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010627:Phenethylamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000254:growth & development*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
D007106:Immune Sera; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D010627:Phenethylamines; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D000217:Acyltransferases; D002794:Choline