Free acetylcholine in the cerebrospinal fluid after brain operations.

Abstract

Free acetylcholine was found in the cerebrospinal fluid of 30 cats subjected to brain operations and in 20 patients subjected to various intracranialoperations. The rise is due to operative trauma. Anesthesia has no effect on the level of acetylcholine. Acetylcholine in the cerebrospinal fluid is not a causative factor in producing the clinical syndrome of concussion. Post-operative consciousness is related to the region of the brain involved in the operation. Following trauma to the brain, acetylcholine is only 1 of many substances found in the cerebrospinal fluid. It is doubted that this 1 neurohormone plays a major role after head injury.