Differential localization of acetylcholinesterase in relation to pre- and postsynaptic nicotinic receptors in the chick brain.
Immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy were combined to study the distribution of acetylcholinesterase in relation to the localization of the beta2 subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the chick brain. In several areas where the beta2 subunit is recognizably part of presynaptic receptors, the localization of acetylcholinesterase appeared not to overlap the localization of beta2. On the other hand, acetylcholinesterase and the beta2 subunit exhibited a strictly matching localization in areas where postsynaptic nicotinic receptors are known to be present. These data may represent a morphological substrate for possible differential actions of acetylcholinesterase at presynaptic and postsynaptic nicotinic sites.
Britto
L R
LR
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1524, 05508-900, S.P., São Paulo, Brazil. lrbritto@usp.br
Alves
A S
AS
Lindstrom
J M
JM
Torrão
A S
AS
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002645:Chickens; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000378:metabolism*; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism*; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase