Neurotransmitter Enzymes

1986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan A. Boulton ◽  
Glen B. Baker ◽  
Peter H. Yu
1979 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 575-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. -Y. Wu ◽  
E. D. Bird ◽  
M. S. Chen ◽  
W. M. Huang

1983 ◽  
Vol 244 (1) ◽  
pp. G58-G64
Author(s):  
M. M. Heitkemper ◽  
S. F. Marotta

Acetylcholine and norepinephrine play important roles in determining gastrointestinal (GI) tract motility and secretion. At this time, however, little is known concerning the postnatal developmental patterns of the enzymes that synthesize and degrade these two neurotransmitters within the GI tract. The present study examined the developmental activities, expressed per gram protein per minute, of the cholinergic enzymes choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) and the adrenergic enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) in male rats between days 1 and 50. Seven anatomic segments of the GI tract were assayed for enzyme activities. In general, all four neurotransmitter enzymes were present throughout the length of the GI tract and increased during the early postnatal period. The synthesizing enzymes ChAT and TH displayed peak activity prior to day 21, while the degrading enzymes AChE and MAO continued to increase past day 21. Each enzyme exhibited segmental differences and unique postnatal developmental patterns. Such differences in enzyme activities may be related to developmental increases in neuronal density, hormonal factors, or direct stimulation of the GI tract by liquid and/or solid diet.


1993 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 455-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Klosen ◽  
X Maessen ◽  
P van den Bosch de Aguilar

We have developed a protocol for the production and longterm storage of polyethylene glycol (PEG) sections for immunocytochemistry. Sections obtained by this protocol allow immunolabeling for many different antigens, such as intermediate filaments, macrophage markers, or neurotransmitter enzymes. Standard histological staining can also be performed on these sections. This fixation-embedding system may therefore be of interest for histopathology of rare specimens, as well as for experimental research. Multiple labeling can be performed either on the same section or on consecutive thin sections, thus allowing a more thorough analysis of precious experimental material. We compare the advantages of PEG vs cryostat or vibratome sections. This protocol has been used to study the inactivation of antigenicity by paraffin embedding. We have identified the infiltration by paraffin as the antigenicity inactivating step, not dehydration or high temperature as generally thought.


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