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Acetylcholinesterase Activity in the Region of the Nematode Nerve Ring: Improved Histochemical Specificity Using Ultrasonic Pretreatment

Acetylcholinesterase Activity in the Region of the Nematode Nerve Ring: Improved Histochemical... ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY IN THE REGION OF THE NEMATODE NERVE RING: IMPROVED HISTOCHEMICAL SPECIFICITY USING ULTRASONIC PRETREATMENT BY DENIS J. WRIGHT and FAROOQ A. AWAN Department of Zoology and Applied Entomology, Imperial College Field Station, Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7DE, England Panagrellus redivivus, Caenorhabditis elegans, Prionchulus punctatus, Aphelenchus avenae and Ditylenchus dipsaci were stained for cholinesterase activity using the 'direct-colouring' thiocholine method. Enzyme activity was concentrated in the region of the nerve ring in each species. Ultra- sonic pretreatment of intact or cut nematodes was found to greatly improve the staining consistency at the nerve ring, and using two substrates (acetylthiocholine and butyrylthiocholine) and three inhibitors (eserine, BW 284C51, and iso-OMPA) this staining was found to be due to acetyl- cholinesterase (E.C. 3.1.1.7) activity. Acetylcholine is the most likely candidate for the excitatory transmitter at the nematode neuromuscular junction (Gerschenfeld, 1973; Croll, 1975; Sulston et al., 1975), although many of the criteria necessary for its conclusive identifica- tion as a neurotransmitter have yet to be established for any nematode species. One such criterion is the presence of acetylcholinesterase activity at the neuromuscular junction. Acetylcholinesterase (acetylcholine hydrolase, E.C. 3.1.1.7, AChE) is thought to be the important enzyme involved in http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Nematologica Brill

Acetylcholinesterase Activity in the Region of the Nematode Nerve Ring: Improved Histochemical Specificity Using Ultrasonic Pretreatment

Nematologica , Volume 22 (3): 6 – Jan 1, 1976

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Publisher
Brill
Copyright
Copyright © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
0028-2596
eISSN
1875-2926
DOI
10.1163/187529276X00616
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY IN THE REGION OF THE NEMATODE NERVE RING: IMPROVED HISTOCHEMICAL SPECIFICITY USING ULTRASONIC PRETREATMENT BY DENIS J. WRIGHT and FAROOQ A. AWAN Department of Zoology and Applied Entomology, Imperial College Field Station, Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7DE, England Panagrellus redivivus, Caenorhabditis elegans, Prionchulus punctatus, Aphelenchus avenae and Ditylenchus dipsaci were stained for cholinesterase activity using the 'direct-colouring' thiocholine method. Enzyme activity was concentrated in the region of the nerve ring in each species. Ultra- sonic pretreatment of intact or cut nematodes was found to greatly improve the staining consistency at the nerve ring, and using two substrates (acetylthiocholine and butyrylthiocholine) and three inhibitors (eserine, BW 284C51, and iso-OMPA) this staining was found to be due to acetyl- cholinesterase (E.C. 3.1.1.7) activity. Acetylcholine is the most likely candidate for the excitatory transmitter at the nematode neuromuscular junction (Gerschenfeld, 1973; Croll, 1975; Sulston et al., 1975), although many of the criteria necessary for its conclusive identifica- tion as a neurotransmitter have yet to be established for any nematode species. One such criterion is the presence of acetylcholinesterase activity at the neuromuscular junction. Acetylcholinesterase (acetylcholine hydrolase, E.C. 3.1.1.7, AChE) is thought to be the important enzyme involved in

Journal

NematologicaBrill

Published: Jan 1, 1976

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