Acetylcholine levels of rat brain and heart in starvation and protein restriction.

ABSTRACT

Acetylcholine (ACh) levels and protein content in brain and heart were determined in normal, acutely starved, chronically semi-starved and chronically protein restricted groups of adult male rats. The only change observed in acute starvation and chronic semi-starvation was an increase in ACh level with a decrease in protein content in the heart, no change was observed in the brain. Protein restriction, however, produced a significant rise in ACh levels with a decrease in protein content of both brain and heart.