The isolated perfused chicken heart as a tool for studying acetylcholine output in the absence of cholinesterase inhibition

Abstract

In chicken hearts, the acetylcholine (ACh) output in response to vagal stimulation was easily detectable by gas chromatography even in the absence of cholinesterase inhibition. Eserine 10⁻⁶ M markedly increased the ACh output. In contrast, the ACh output from the perfused rabbit heart was not measurable in the absence of cholinesterase inhibition. Both ACh concentration and cholinesterase activity were higher in the chicken heart than in the rabbit heart. In conclusion, the isolated perfused chicken heart is at present a unique tool for studying the output of the parasympathetic transmitter in the absence of cholinesterase inhibition.