Intrinsic Cholinergic Mechanisms Regulating Cerebral Blood Flow as a Target for Organophosphate Action.

摘要

To investigate acetylcholine's (ACh's) role in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular regulation, neuroanatomic substrates were first defined using immunocytochemical mapping from choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), the ACh-synthesizing enzyme. ChAT-immunoreactive cell bodies and processes were localized to autonomic or limbic nuclei throughout the neuraxis and close appositions with brainstem microvessels and ependymal cells. Moreover, they codistributed with catecholaminergic neurons staining for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) or phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT), overlapped structures rich in muscarinic and nicotinic receptors, and expressed autonomic, neuroendocrine or behavioral responsivity to central cholinergic simulation. Keywords: Acetylcholine, Choline acetyltransferase, Adrenergic neurons, Central neural pathways. (jes)