Biomaterial Database

Parallel regional quantification of choline acetyltransferase and cholinesterase activity in the central nervous system of an invertebrate (Sepia officinalis). 1998

C Bellanger, and F Dauphin, and L P Belzunces, and R Chichery

Laboratoire de Psychophysiologie, Université de Caen, Esplanade de la Paix, 14032 Caen Cedex, France. bellanger@cyceron.fr

The present study describes (i) a procedure to dissect the central nervous system of the cuttlefish (Cephalopod) into ten, functionally distinct, anatomical regions of interest and (ii) the parallel measurement of acetylcholine synthesis (choline acetyltransferase) and degradation (cholinesterase) activities. Both aspects (dissection and parallel quantification of acetylcholine synthesis and degradation) could be of great importance for quantitative regional studies in neurochemistry in this animal model, it is interesting to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in learning and aging processes. The parallel quantification of acetylcholine synthesis and degradation applicable to any animal model is pivotal since both enzymes are essential for the cholinergic neurotransmission and may be differentially modulated by specific functions such as learning and aging processes. Furthermore, since choline acetyltransferase and cholinesterase show different localization into the brain, their parallel quantification may underlie the involvement of cholinesterase in non-cholinergic functions, which remain unclear throughout the animal kingdom.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007858	Learning	Relatively permanent change in behavior that is the result of past experience or practice. The concept includes the acquisition of knowledge.	Phenomenography
D008297	Male		Males
D002490	Central Nervous System	The main information-processing organs of the nervous system, consisting of the brain, spinal cord, and meninges.	Cerebrospinal Axis,Axi, Cerebrospinal,Axis, Cerebrospinal,Central Nervous Systems,Cerebrospinal Axi,Nervous System, Central,Nervous Systems, Central,Systems, Central Nervous
D002795	Choline O-Acetyltransferase	An enzyme that catalyzes the formation of acetylcholine from acetyl-CoA and choline. EC 2.3.1.6.	Choline Acetylase,Choline Acetyltransferase,Acetylase, Choline,Acetyltransferase, Choline,Choline O Acetyltransferase,O-Acetyltransferase, Choline
D002802	Cholinesterases		Acylcholineacylhydrolase,Cholase,Cholinesterase
D005260	Female		Females
D000375	Aging	The gradual irreversible changes in structure and function of an organism that occur as a result of the passage of time.	Senescence,Aging, Biological,Biological Aging
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D049832	Decapodiformes	A superorder of CEPHALOPODS comprised of squid, cuttlefish, and their relatives. Their distinguishing feature is the modification of their fourth pair of arms into tentacles, resulting in 10 limbs.	Cuttlefish,Illex,Sepiidae,Squid,Todarodes,Cuttlefishs,Decapodiforme,Illices,Squids,Todarode
D018377	Neurotransmitter Agents	Substances used for their pharmacological actions on any aspect of neurotransmitter systems. Neurotransmitter agents include agonists, antagonists, degradation inhibitors, uptake inhibitors, depleters, precursors, and modulators of receptor function.	Nerve Transmitter Substance,Neurohormone,Neurohumor,Neurotransmitter Agent,Nerve Transmitter Substances,Neurohormones,Neurohumors,Neuromodulator,Neuromodulators,Neuroregulator,Neuroregulators,Neurotransmitter,Neurotransmitters,Substances, Nerve Transmitter,Transmitter Substances, Nerve,Substance, Nerve Transmitter,Transmitter Substance, Nerve