Early milk availability modulates the activity of choline acetyltransferase in the cerebral cortex of rats.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of milk in the early stage of lactation on the maturation of cholinergic neurons in the cerebral cortex of rats. Pups were removed from their mothers immediately following parturition and placed with foster dams at days 5-7 of lactation. At days 18 and 56 after birth, the activity of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), an enzyme responsible for acetylcholine synthesis, in different areas of the cerebral cortex was examined by high-performance liquid chromatography electrochemical detection.

Induction of cholinergic differentiation by 5-azacytidine in NG108-15 neuronal cells.

The DNA-demethylating agent 5-azacytidine (5-azaC) causes extensive genomic demethylation of 5-methyl-cytosine residues and reduces DNA methyltransferase activity in cells. This study evaluated the effect of 5-azaC on neuronal differentiation in proliferating NG108-15 neuronal cells, which exhibit cholinergic traits. The expression of choline acetyltransferase, an enzyme responsible for acetylcholine synthesis, was increased at both the mRNA and protein level, and neurite outgrowth was markedly induced with an increase of neurofilament-heavy chain protein, in the 5-azaC-treated cells.

Functional development of oligodendrocytes and open-field behavior in developing rats: an approach using monoclonal antibody to immature oligodendrocytes.

To examine the relation between functional development of oligodendrocytes and open-field behavior during the postnatal period, a mouse monoclonal antibody termed 14F7, which predominantly labels stage-specific immature oligodendrocytes, was employed. Antibody 14F7 was administered intraperitoneally into male pups on day 3 and 4 after birth. The open-field test was performed on days 12 and 18 of the postnatal period.