Summary
Structural correlates of acetylcholine effects are discussed in the terms of molecular anatomy. Polarization microscopy proves that acetylcholine induces a structural desorganisation of synaptic membranes, probably responsible for the increased ion flux during synaptic transmission. Synaptic vesicles within pre-synaptic terminals are not identical with the transmitter substance; rather they can be regarded as “containers” that bind acetylcholin on their surface membranes. The enzyme responsible for acetylcholine synthesis (acetylcholine acyltransferase choline acetylase) cannot be demonstrated at present by histological techniques. On the other hand, the enzyme hydrolyzing the transmitter (acetylcholinesterase) can readily be stained by means of the Koelle-technique, both at the level of light and electron microscopy. Presence of acetylcholinesterase in some excitatory and inhibitory synapses of the central nervous system suggests the “pretransmitter” role of acetylcholine. The fine structural localizations of specific and nonspecific esterases in the synaptolemmal layers of the motor end plate, as studied by means of electron histochemistry, proves that the “middle dense layer” contains arylesterase, whereas pre- and post-synaptic membranes are loaded with acetycholinesterase. Therefore, the theory of a cascade-connected enzyme system, responsible for junctional transmission, is forwarded.
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Csillik, B. (1969). Acetylcholine. In: Kappers, J.A. (eds) Neurohormones and Neurohumors. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-25519-3_8
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