Skip to main content
The Journal of Cell Biology logoLink to The Journal of Cell Biology
. 1967 Apr 1;33(1):93–102. doi: 10.1083/jcb.33.1.93

THE LOCALIZATION OF ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE AT THE AUTONOMIC NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION

Peter M Robinson 1, Christopher Bell 1
PMCID: PMC2107299  PMID: 6033943

Abstract

Acetylcholinesterase has been localized at the autonomic neuromuscular junction in the bladder of the toad (Bufo marinus) by the Karnovsky method. High levels of enzyme activity have been demonstrated in association with the membranes of cholinergic axons and the adjacent membranes of the accompanying Schwann cells. The synaptic vesicles stained in occasional cholinergic axons. After longer incubation times, the membrane of smooth muscle cells close to cholinergic axons also stained. Axons with only moderate acetylcholinesterase activity or with no activity at all were seen in the same bundles as cholinergic axons, but identification of the transmitter in these axons was not possible.

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (1.0 MB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. AUSTIN L., BERRY W. K. Two selective inhibitors of cholinesterase. Biochem J. 1953 Jul;54(4):695–700. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BARRNETT R. J. The fine structural localization of acetylcholinesterase at the myoneural junction. J Cell Biol. 1962 Feb;12:247–262. doi: 10.1083/jcb.12.2.247. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. BURNSTOCK G., HOLMAN M. E. AN ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE ACTIONS OF SOME AUTONOMIC BLOCKING DRUGS ON TRANSMISSION IN THE GUINEA-PIG VAS DEFERENS. Br J Pharmacol Chemother. 1964 Dec;23:600–612. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1964.tb01613.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. BURNSTOCK G., HOLMAN M. E. The transmission of excitation from autonomic nerve to smooth muscle. J Physiol. 1961 Jan;155:115–133. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1961.sp006617. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. BURNSTOCK G., O'SHEA J., WOOD M. COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE VERTEBRATE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM. I. INNERVATION OF THE URINARY BLADDER OF THE TOAD (BUFO MARINUS). J Exp Biol. 1963 Sep;40:403–419. doi: 10.1242/jeb.40.3.403a. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Bennett M. R., Merrillees N. C. An analysis of the transmission of excitation from autonomic nerves to smooth muscle. J Physiol. 1966 Aug;185(3):520–535. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1966.sp008000. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. FATT P., KATZ B. An analysis of the end-plate potential recorded with an intracellular electrode. J Physiol. 1951 Nov 28;115(3):320–370. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1951.sp004675. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. KARNOVSKY M. J., ROOTS L. A "DIRECT-COLORING" THIOCHOLINE METHOD FOR CHOLINESTERASES. J Histochem Cytochem. 1964 Mar;12:219–221. doi: 10.1177/12.3.219. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. KARNOVSKY M. J. THE LOCALIZATION OF CHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY IN RAT CARDIAC MUSCLE BY ELECTRON MICROSCOPY. J Cell Biol. 1964 Nov;23:217–232. doi: 10.1083/jcb.23.2.217. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. KOELLE G. B. A proposed dual neurohumoral role of acetylcholine: its functions at the pre- and post-synaptic sites. Nature. 1961 Apr 15;190:208–211. doi: 10.1038/190208a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. KOELLE G. B. The elimination of enzymatic diffusion artifacts in the histochemical localization of cholinesterases and a survey of their cellular distributions. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1951 Oct;103(2):153–171. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. KOELLE G. B. The histochemical differentiation of types of cholinesterases and their localizations in tissues of the cat. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1950 Oct;100(2):158–179. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. KOELLE G. B. The histochemical identification of acetylcholinesterase in cholinergic, adrenergic and sensory neurons. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1955 Jun;114(2):167–184. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. MILEDI R. ELECTRON-MICROSCOPICAL LOCALIZATION OF PRODUCTS FROM HISTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS USED TO DETECT CHOLINESTERASE IN MUSCLE. Nature. 1964 Oct 17;204:293–295. doi: 10.1038/204293b0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. McLean J. R., Burnstock G. Histochemical localization of catecholamines in the urinary bladder of the toad (Bufo marinus). J Histochem Cytochem. 1966 Jul;14(7):538–548. doi: 10.1177/14.7.538. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. NACHLAS M. M., PRINN W., SELIGMAN A. M. Quantitative estimation of lyo- and desmoenzymes in tissue sections with and without fixation. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1956 Sep 25;2(5):487–502. doi: 10.1083/jcb.2.5.487. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. SHEN S. C., GREENFIELD P., BOELL E. J. The distribution of cholinesterase in the frog brain. J Comp Neurol. 1955 Jun;102(3):717–743. doi: 10.1002/cne.901020307. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. TAKEUCHI A., TAKEUCHI N. Active phase of frog's end-plate potential. J Neurophysiol. 1959 Jul;22(4):395–411. doi: 10.1152/jn.1959.22.4.395. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. ZACKS S. I., BLUMBERG J. M. The histochemical localization of acetylcholinesterase in the fine structure of neuromuscular junctions of mouse and human intercostal muscle. J Histochem Cytochem. 1961 May;9:317–324. doi: 10.1177/9.3.317. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Journal of Cell Biology are provided here courtesy of The Rockefeller University Press

RESOURCES