REMOVAL OF ACETYLCHOLINE BY CHOLINESTERASE INJECTIONS AND THE EFFECT THEREOF ON NERVE IMPULSE TRANSMISSION

Abstract

Purified cholinesterase preps., injd. intraven., are capable of acting within the animal body, thereby preventing the chromo-dacryorrhetic effect ordinarily obtained from injd. acetylcholine. It has been possible to prove, through the inj. of these enzyme preps., that acetylcholine plays an essential role in the transmission of nerve impulses to the sphincter pupillae. By measuring pupil diams. under constant exptl. conditions, it has been demonstrated that the direct light reflex is partially or totally abolished by the inj. of cholinesterase preps., indicating that the integrity of the reflex depends on the presence of acetylcholine at some point or points in the pathway of the nerve impulse.