Relative Amounts of Choline Acetylase and Cholinesterases in Dorsal and Ventral Roots of Cattle

Abstract

The relative amounts of choline acetylase and true and pseudo cholinesterase were detd. in the spinal roots of cattle. In the dorsal roots the synthesis of acetylcholine, if any, is less than 5% of that of the ventral roots under the same conditions. Evidence is presented that the inability of dorsal roots to form acetylcholine acetylase and not to inhibitory factors. The cholinesterases have the same activities in the dorsal roots as in the ventral roots. It is concluded that acetylcholine metabolism is not an indispensable component of all types of nervous activity.