Parallel regional quantification of choline acetyltransferase and cholinesterase activity in the central nervous system of an invertebrate (Sepia officinalis).
The present study describes (i) a procedure to dissect the central nervous system of the cuttlefish (Cephalopod) into ten, functionally distinct, anatomical regions of interest and (ii) the parallel measurement of acetylcholine synthesis (choline acetyltransferase) and degradation (cholinesterase) activities. Both aspects (dissection and parallel quantification of acetylcholine synthesis and degradation) could be of great importance for quantitative regional studies in neurochemistry in this animal model, it is interesting to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in learning and aging processes. The parallel quantification of acetylcholine synthesis and degradation applicable to any animal model is pivotal since both enzymes are essential for the cholinergic neurotransmission and may be differentially modulated by specific functions such as learning and aging processes. Furthermore, since choline acetyltransferase and cholinesterase show different localization into the brain, their parallel quantification may underlie the involvement of cholinesterase in non-cholinergic functions, which remain unclear throughout the animal kingdom.
Laboratoire de Psychophysiologie, Université de Caen, Esplanade de la Paix, 14032 Caen Cedex, France. bellanger@cyceron.fr
C
C
Bellanger
F
F
Dauphin
L P
LP
Belzunces
R
R
Chichery
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000201:enzymology*; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000032:analysis*; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000032:analysis*; D049832:Decapodiformes / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism
D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D002802:Cholinesterases