This study investigated the cholinesterasic reactivity of catecholamine neurons in the rat hindbrain with the aid of a two-step histochemical procedure. First, catecholamine cells were visualized by their formaldehyde/glutaraldehyde induced specific histofluorescence and then poststained in the same tissue with a thiocholine technique for acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Processing the vibratome-sectioned tissue in phosphate buffer subsequent to initial aldehyde fixation permitted satisfactory preservation of both amine fluorophores and esterasic reactivity. Our results, in both randomly sampled and serially sectioned material, unequivocally establish the presence of AChE in all pontomedullary cell groups emitting catecholamine fluorescence, the majority of which are known to consist of noradrenaline perikarya. Hence in contrast to previous reports the occurrence of AChE in central noradrenaline neurons appears to be generalized. The intensity of histofluorescence and esterasic staining were uncorrelated in most regions. It remains for future study to determine whether AChE in brain catecholamine neurons indicates their cholinoceptivity or subserves the catabolism of other neuromediators such as substance P.