Predicted acetylcholine layer around embryonic motoneurones.
The secretion of acetylcholine (ACh) from cultures of dissociated rat purified embryonic motoneurones into the medium was measured at different times using a chemiluminescent assay. From these results it is proposed that a motoneurone is able to generate an extracellular ACh layer surrounding its membrane. This layer is expected to modulate the ACh concentration at the membrane in a range where ACh receptors can be sensitive, and thus to affect the response of the motoneurone. The influences of both membrane-bound and soluble-secreted acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were simulated and a local ACh membrane efflux was deduced. Since ACh usually exerts an inhibitory effect on neurite outgrowth, a possible autocrine influence of the ACh layer in motoneurone morphogenesis is discussed.
Limozin
L
L
Université de Provence-St. Jérôme, IRPHE/Biophysique, Marseille, France.
Pelce
P
P
Savtchenko
L
L
Chamoin
M C
MC
Ternaux
J P
JP
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D019898:Autocrine Communication; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002384:Catalysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D016501:Neurites / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D012995:Solubility
D003470:Culture Media; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D000109:Acetylcholine