Neuroprotective effect of deprenyl on motoneurons of spinal cord after axotomy of peripheral nerves such as sciatic has been well established. Deprenyl is an inhibitor of monoamine oxidase type-B (MAO-B). The main function of this agent is the release of neurotransmitters from pre-synaptic terminals. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that is synthesized by choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and...

Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT, acetyl-CoA-choline-O-acetyltransferase, EC 2.3.1.6) activity was measured in homogenates prepared from wild type (Canton S) and two temperature-sensitive presumed ChAT structural gene mutants (Chats1 and Chats2; originally described by Greenspan, R. (1980) J. Comp. Physiol. 137: 83-92) of Drosophila melanogaster. Wild type flies grown at 32 degrees C for 12 or 2...

Choline supplementation during fetal development [embryonic days (E) 11-17] permanently enhances memory performance in rats. To characterize the neurochemical mechanisms that may mediate this effect, we investigated the development of indices of the cholinergic system in the hippocampus: choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), synthesis of acetylcholine (ACh) from choline...