RESUMO
Cholinesterase (ChE) activity in the chondrocranium of normal and exencephalic trisomy 12 mouse fetuses was studied. Non-specific cholinesterase activity was found strongly in the developing bone cells at the central zone and weakly in the more maturely developed bone cells at the peripheral zone of the chondrocranium of both normal and exencephalic trisomy 12 mouse fetuses. In exencephalic mouse fetuses, the ChE-activity was lesser than in the normal ones which corresponded to hypoplastic chondrocranium. The centrifugal direction of the maturity of individual bone cells could be demonstrated by the activity of cholinesterase. The young bone cells showed strong ChE-activity while the more matured cells showed weak ChE-activity. The enzyme activity disappeared when the definite tissue structure was well developed. From this study, it may be concluded that ChE plays a role in chondrocranium development which is different from its known function in the adult tissue.