DEVELOPMENT OF CHOLINERGIC NERVOUS-SYSTEM IN THE BRAIN OF NORMAL AND HYPERTENSIVE RATS

Triton X-100 extracted brain AChE [acetylcholinesterase EC 3.1.1.7] and ChAc [choline acetyltransferase EC 2.3.1.6] molecular forms of normal and hypertensive rats were studied during pre- and postnatal development. AChE of the brain could be separated into 4 molecular forms and ChAc into 3. Activities of both AChE and ChAc forms were increased with age. In hypertension some molecular forms of AChE and ChAc were much more affected than others. Different molecular forms of each enzyme may have different physiological roles.