Histochemical localization of cholinesterases in some developmental stages of anopheles pharoensis and culex pipiens [Diptera: culicidae]

ABSTRACT

The distribution of cholinesterase in the larvae, pupae and adults of Anopheles pharoensis and Culex pipiens was investigated histochemically. Cholinesterase was found throughout the central nervous system and in peripheral nerves. Nonnervous tissues, such as gastric caeca, Malpighian tubules, longitudinal muscles, salivary glands sometimes exhibited faint cholinesterase reactions. Eserine sulphate and iso-OMPA were used as inhibitors in an attempt to characterize the enzyme as either acetylcholinesterase or pseudocholinesterase