Quantitative distribution of choline acetyltransferase activity in rat trapezoid body.

There is evidence for a function of acetylcholine in the cochlear nucleus, primarily in a feedback, modulatory effect on auditory processing. Using a microdissection and quantitative microassay approach, choline acetyltransferase activity was mapped in the trapezoid bodies of rats, in which the activity is relatively higher than in cats or hamsters. Maps of series of sections through the trapezoid body demonstrated generally higher choline acetyltransferase activity rostrally than caudally, particularly in its portion ventral to the medial part of the spinal trigeminal tract.

Effects of surgical lesions on choline acetyltransferase activity in the cat cochlea.

Although it is well established that the choline acetyltransferase (ChAT, the enzyme for acetylcholine synthesis) in the mammalian cochlea is associated with its olivocochlear innervation, the distribution of this innervation in the cochlea varies somewhat among mammalian species. The quantitative distribution of ChAT activity in the cochlea has been reported for guinea pigs and rats. The present study reports the distribution of ChAT activity within the organ of Corti among the three turns of the cat cochlea and the effects of removing olivocochlear innervation either by a lateral cut aimed to totally transect the left olivocochlear bundle or a more medial cut additionally damaging the superior olivary complex on the same side.

Amino acid concentrations and selected enzyme activities in rat auditory, olfactory, and visual systems.

Homogenates of specific brain regions of three sensory systems (auditory, olfactory, and visual) were prepared from pigmented Long-Evans Hooded rats and assayed for amino acid concentrations and activities of glutaminase, aspartate aminotransferase (total, cytosolic, and by difference, mitochondrial), malate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, and choline acetyltransferase. Comparing the quantitative distributions among regions revealed significant correlations between AAT and aspartate, between glutaminase and glutamate, between glutamate and glutamine, and between AAT plus glutaminase, or glutaminase alone, and the sum of aspartate, glutamate, and GABA, suggesting a metabolic pathway involving the synthesis of a glutamate pool as precursor to aspartate and GABA. Of the inhibitory transmitter amino acids, GABA concentrations routinely exceeded those of glycine, but glycine concentrations were relatively high in brainstem auditory structures.

Aspartate aminotransferase and glutaminase activities in rat olfactory bulb and cochlear nucleus; comparisons with retina and with concentrations of substrate and product amino acids.

The quantitative distributions of aspartate aminotransferase and glutaminase were mapped in subregions of olfactory bulb and cochlear nucleus of rat, and were compared with similar data for retina and with the distributions of their substrate and product amino acids aspartate, glutamate, and glutamine. The distributions of both enzymes paralleled that of aspartate in the olfactory bulb and that of glutamate in the cochlear nucleus. In retina (excluding inner segments), there were similarities between aspartate aminotransferase and both glutamate and aspartate distributions.

Contribution of centrifugal innervation to choline acetyltransferase activity in the cat cochlear nucleus.

Using a quantitative microchemical mapping approach combined with surgical cuts of fiber tracts, the contributions of centrifugal pathways to choline acetyltransferase activity were mapped three-dimensionally in the cat cochlear nucleus. Large reductions of choline acetyltransferase activity, averaging 70%, were measured in almost all parts of the lesion-side nucleus following transection of virtually all its centrifugal connections. More superficial cuts, penetrating just through the olivocochlear bundle, also led to significant reductions of enzyme activity, especially most rostrally in the anteroventral cochlear nucleus and superficial granular region, where the reductions were similar to those following the complete cuts.