Binding of d-[dimethyl-14C]tubocurarine, acetylcholinesterase and proteolipids in subcellular membranes of cerebral cortex of the developing rat

Development of transient acetylcholinesterase staining in cells and permanent staining in fibers in cortex of rat brain

The development of the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) texture of the cortex of the rat brain was studied during the first three weeks of life. The Tago technique enables visualization of both AChE+ cells and fibers with both shown in exquisite detail making quantification possible. At each age--0 (birth), 7, 14, 21 and 60 days (adult)--four brain areas were studied (cingulate, dorsal neocortex, lateral neocortex and olfactory) at each of three coronal planes in the brain (anterior, intermediate, posterior). Fiber density reached adult levels by Day 21 in cingulate cortex in intermediate and posterior planes. In other areas fiber density reached adult levels by Day 14 indicating a high rate of fiber growth during the first two weeks of life since at birth rat cortex is innervated only by a sparse AChE+ fiber invasion into neocortex in the anterior plane. Fiber density did not regress after adult levels were reached, however, cell staining showed a different pattern. At birth many lightly stained cells were seen in the olfactory cortex in all three planes, but other areas were devoid of cells. In all areas there was a peak at Day 7 in number of cells stained and in intensity of cells staining with a gradual decline in cell staining until by Day 21 very few stained cells were seen in the cortex (typical adult pattern).

Postnatal changes in the activity ratio of specific and nonspecific cholinesterases from neuronal perikarya

A soluble fraction from rat brain neuronal perikarya was shown to contain both the specific and nonspecific forms of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (EC's 3.1.1.7. and 3.1.1.8., respectively). The ratio of the enzyme activities varied along the course of brain development: the nonspecific form being predominant from 1 to 15 days of age and the specific one showing the pattern of rising activity from day 15 onward. We suggest a possible relationship between this changing in cholinesterase activities and the establishment of synapses within the rat cerebral cortex.

Ontogenesis of muscarinic receptors and acetylcholinesterase activity in various areas of chick brain

Muscarinic receptors, labeled with [3H]quinuclidinyl benzylate ([3H]QNB), and acetylcholinesterase activity were studied in five areas of the developing chick brain: (1) hyperstriatum and neostriatum, (2) paleostriatum, (3) optic lobes, (4) mesodiencephalon and (5) cerebellum. The protein content of these areas, expressed as mg/g tissue and total protein, was determined between day -10 and adulthood. Differences in both determinations were observed among the areas. The binding of [3H]QNB was expressed as density (fmol/mg protein) and total number of receptors (fmol/total protein) in the area. Considerable variations were observed among the areas. The cerebellum showed the lowest receptor density and a large decrease in density and total number of receptors in the adult, which may reflect a change in neuronal population. Acetylcholinesterase, in certain areas, accompanied the changes in receptor concentration, but the timing and rate of increase had special features in each case. The most striking one was the cerebellum, in which the enzyme increased steadily postnatally, while the muscarinic receptors dropped to very low values.

Neonatal hypothyroidism and early undernutrition in the rat: defective maturation of structural membrane components in the central nervous system

The action of neonatal hypothyroidism and early undernutrition on the lipid and protein composition, as well as, on the activity of 2'3' cyclic nucleotide 3' phosphohydrolase was studied in different subcellular fractions isolated from 20 day old hypothyroid and undernourished rats. Based on protein content, a marked decrease (70%) in the recovery of myelin was observed in both experimental conditions. The lipid composition of myelin in both groups was, however, different; while cholesterol, total phospholipids, and total galactolipids decreased in a similar fashion in the two situations; sulfatides and plasmalogens were much more affected in hypothyroid rats.

Turnover of phosphatidyl choline and changes in enzymatic activity in cell membranes of the CNS during early myelination

Subfractions of fraction A, which floats on top on 0.8 M sucrose in the classical density gradient used for the isolation of brain subcellular fractions (A1 corresponding in adult rats to myelin and A2 which corresponds to the myelin-like fraction), were studied in comparison to other brain subcellular fractions in 5 day old rats and at different stages of development, up to 60 days of age. Variations in the enzymatic activity of acetylcholinesterase, non-specific cholinesterase and 2',3'-Cyclic nucleotide phosphohydrolase, changes in lipid and protein composition and turnover of phosphatidyl choline were investigated. Results indicate that fractions A1 and A2 obtained prior to the beginning of myelination could be composed of fragments of the oligodendroglial cell plasma membranes, and that both fractions undergo substantial changes in chemical composition, enzymatic activity and in turnover of phosphatidyl choline during maturation. In vivo experiments at short times, using radioactive choline as a precursor of phosphatidylcholine suggest that membrane fragments isolated in fraction A2 are precursors of those isolated in fraction A1 at all ages.

A regional study of developing rat brain: the accumulation and distribution of proteolipid proteins

The accumulation and distribution of proteolipid proteins in rat brain and selected brain regions (cerebellum, cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, and hippocampus) were studied during early postnatal development. In whole brain an eightfold increase of proteolipid was observed between ten and 33 days after birth. This was reflected in the separate regions examined where the proteolipid protein content increased six- to ten-fold during the same period. The basal ganglia and cerebral cortex contributed the greatest amount to the total proteolipid present. However, at 28-33 days the greatest concentration (mg/g tissue) was observed in the basal ganglia and hippocampus. When the proteolipid protein preparations were examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, distinctive, heterogeneous patterns for each brain region were obtained. Proteolipid from basal ganglia (the region richest in white matter) consisted primarily of two major protein bands with apparent molecular weights of approximately 21,500 and 26,000. Both of these bands dramatically increased in quantity during myelination, and the larger protein coelectrophoresed with isolated myelin proteolipid protein. Both bands were also found present in proteolipid preparations from the other brain regions but in varying amounts relative to the total. The data suggest that the increase in proteolipid observed during this developmental period was due in large measure to the accumulation of myelin-specific proteolipids, but also that a significant proportion of the increase was due to the accumulation of nonmyelin components.