Sympathetic denervation affects the choline acetyltransferase activity in decentralized parasympathetic neurones of the submaxillary gland of the rat.
Parasympathetic decentralization of the rat submaxillary gland caused the activity of the acetylcholine forming enzyme, choline acetyltransferase, to decrease. No such decrease in the enzyme activity was observed when parasympathetic decentralization was combined with sympathetic denervation and further, if the two types of operation were carried out in sequence the enzyme activity could be shown to increase from a reduced level. Thus in contrast to previous concept the present study shows that the activity of choline acetyltransferase in the postganglionic nerves can be influenced by sympathetic denervation in spite of the fact that these nerves are not in contact with the central nervous system. The choline acetyltransferase activity was not affected by preganglionic sympathetic denervation.
D000818:Animals; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D003714:Denervation; D005260:Female; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology*; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000201:enzymology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000294:innervation
D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase