The effects of excess calcium on the acetylcholine turnover from the minced and incubated rat's brain.

ABSTRACT

The incubation of brain mince in ERL and ERL with excess calcium was done separately for periods ranging from 30 min to 3 hrs, along with simultaneous determination of free and bound values of Acetylcholine (Ach). Zero and 5 min values were also determined for each incubation experiment before any substantial increase in enzymatic activity. Ach was bioassayed on Rat's blood pressure. In ERL incubations, the release and synthesis of Ach increased along with time, highest being at 3 hrs the release is found to be greater than the synthesis. With excess calcium, there is a slight but gradual increase in free and bound Ach. In the first 30 min incubation, synthesis is more than the release whereas in the latter periods reverse is the case, though they were low when compared to normal at 3 hrs. The effects of excess calcium in the ERL controlling the membrane permeability and enzymatic system of the nerve cell are discussed.