Presynaptic Distribution of the Cholinergic‐Specific Antigen Chol‐1 and 5′‐Nucleotidase in Rat Brain, as Determined by Complement‐Mediated Release of Neurotransmitters

Abstract

Nerve terminals prepared from rat cortex and hippocampus were loaded with 7 radioactive putative neurotransmitters (serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine], noradrenaline [norepinephrine], dopamine, GABA, aspartate, glutamate and taurine). The release of these transmitters, choline acetyltransferase, DOPA decarboxylase, enolase and lactate dehydrogenase was monitored during complement-mediated lysis. Three antisera were used: anti-5''-nucleotidase, anti-Chol-1 and anti-rat cerebrum. Anti-5''-nucleotidase serum did not cause the release of any labeled transmitter or of any of the enzymes studied. Anti-Chol-1 serum released choline acetyltransferase and small amounts of enolase and lactate dehydrogenase. Anti-rat cerebrum caused the release of all 7 transmitters, choline acetyltransferase and small amounts of the other 3 enzymes. 5''-Nucleotidase was not present on any of the terminals studied. Chol-1 is only present on cholinergic terminals.