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M Brzin

Publications and source records attributed to M Brzin.

65 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1967

Cholinesterase activity of nodal and internodal regions of myelinated nerve fibers of frog.

The distribution of cholinesterase (Ch-esterase) in isolated myelinated fibers of the frog has been investigated. Quantitative microgasometric measurements have confirmed the previous histochemical observations. Both approaches indicate that in frog nerve fibers acetylcholinesterase (ACh-esterase) is the only or the predominant enzyme when selective inhibitors and different substrates are used: acetylcholine (ACh), butyrylcholine, and acetyl-B-methylcholine (Mecholyl). By means of the microgasometric technique, a significant difference in ACh-esterase activity between axons isolated from ventral (37.2 +/- 1.7 micromole x 10(-5) ACh/mm(2)/hr) and dorsal roots (2.0 +/- 0.9 micromole x 10(-5) ACh/mm(2)/hr) was found. In the region of the node of Ranvier the enzyme activity (50.4 +/- 4.4 micromole x 10(-5) ACh/mm(2)/hr) appears to be considerably higher than in the internodal area (36.6 +/- 2.1 micromole x 10(-5) ACh/mm(2)/hr). The findings are discussed in relation to the theory of saltatory conduction and the ACh system.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1965

Cholinesterase activity per unit surface area of conducting membranes.

According to theory, the action of acetylcholine (ACh) and ACh-esterase is essential for the permeability changes of excitable membranes during activity. It is, therefore, pertinent to know the activity of ACh-esterase per unit axonal surface area instead of per gram nerve, as it has been measured in the past. Such information has now been obtained with the newly developed microgasometric technique using a magnetic diver. (1) The cholinesterase (Ch-esterase) activity per mm(2) surface of sensory axons of the walking leg of lobster is 1.2 x 10(-3) microM/hr. (sigma = +/- 0.3 x 10(-3); SE = 0.17 x 10(-3)); the corresponding value for the motor axons isslightly higher: 1.93 x 10(-3) microM/hr. (sigma = +/- 0.41 x 10(-3); SE = +/- 0.14 x 10(-3)). Referred to gram nerve, the Ch-esterase activity of the sensory axons is much higher than that of the motor axons: 741 microM/hr. (sigma = +/- 73.5; SE = +/- 32.6) versus 111.6 microM/hr. (sigma = +/- 28.3; SE = +/- 10). (2) The enzyme activity in the small fibers of the stellar nerve of squid is 3.2 x 10(-4) microM/mm(2)/hr. (sigma = +/- 0.96 x 10(-4); SE = +/- 0.4 x 10(-4)). (3) The Ch-esterase activity per mm(2) surface of squid giant axon is 9.5 x 10(-5) microM/hr. (sigma = +/- 1.55 x 10(-5); SE = +/- 0.38 x 10(-5)). The value was obtained with small pieces of carefully cleaned axons after removal of the axoplasm and exposure to sonic disintegration. Without the latter treatment the figurewas 3.85 x 10(-5) microM/mm(2)/hr. (sigma = +/- 3.24 x 10(-5); SE = +/- 0.93 x 10(-5)). The experiments indicate the existence of permeability barriers in the cell wall surrounding part of the enzyme, since the substrate cannot reach all the enzyme even when small fragments of the cell wall are used without disintegration. (4) On the basis of the data obtained, some tentative approximations are made of the ratio of ACh released to Na ions entering the squid giant axon per cm(2) per impulse.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Activity, molecular forms, and cytochemistry of cholinesterases in developing rat diaphragm.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) were studied in the diaphragm of early postnatal rats, using radiometric determination of enzyme activities, velocity sedimentation for separation of molecular forms, and electron microscopic cytochemistry to localize enzymes. AChE activity did not change significantly during the first 2 months after birth. The level of 16 S AChE was high at early stages, but decreased to adult levels between days 19 and 32 after birth. In newborn and 8-day-old rats, 16 S and 13 S AChE were present in both endplate and extrajunctional muscle. In newborn muscle, BuChE activity was higher than AChE activity, but decreased 6-fold by day 32. Newborn muscle contained 16 S, 10 S, and 4 S BuChE. The principal form throughout development was 4 S BuChE, but all forms diminished as total BuChE activity decreased with maturation. At early postnatal neuromuscular junctions, end product of both AChE and BuChE was present in the cleft, as well as in Schwann cells. More Schwann cells wee present in early stages than in later stages, and this might account for part of the later decrease of BuChE activity measured biochemically.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Electron microscopic-cytochemical and biochemical studies of acetylcholinesterase activity in denervated muscle of rabbits.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity has been studied in normal, control and denervated muscle of rabbits by electron microscopic-cytochemistry and radiometric assay. A small amount of butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activity is also found in biochemical assay of unfixed muscle, but it is not demonstrable cytochemically in fixed specimens by the method used in this study. Both a soluble and particulate AChE activity are present in all specimens examined. The particulate activity is probably due to enzyme localized in the sarcotubular system and at the motor end-plate. Soluble AChE activity may represent those sites exhibiting random cytochemical end product, such as some areas of normal and denervated muscle and muscle nuclei, Schwann cells, and AChE-containing mononuclear cells in the connective tissue. There is a greater proportion of particulate than soluble AChE activity in normal and control muscle, a finding which is compatible with the well localized cytochemical sites. Four to six weeks post-denervation, there is a marked increase in extrajunctional AChE activity to peak values 15 to 30 fold above control values. The increase is accompanied by a reversal in the proportion of particulate to soluble enzyme, so that there is almost twice as much soluble as particulate AChE. There are also numerous "spots" of random cytochemical end product throughout extrajunctional muscle. The increase in levels of AChE activity, the change to predominantly soluble form, and the large numbers of new cytochemically active sites indicate that synthesis of new enzyme has taken place. Changes in AChE activity in denervated rabbit have been compared to those occurring in dystrophic mouse muscle. It has been suggested that there might be a relationship between the formation of new extrajunctional sarcoplasmic sites of AChE activity and the spread of alpha-bungarotoxin binding sites and chemosensitivity in developing and denervated muscle.

Acetylcholinesterase↗