Activity of Acetylcholinesterase in Olfactory Bulb of the Pike Esox lucius and Its Role in Development of Long-Term Posttetanic Potentiation

A complex electrophysiological, biochemical, and histochemical study is carried out for determination of activity and distribution of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in olfactory bulb (OB) of the pike during long-term posttetanic potentiation (PTP). Between the 30th and 60th min after tetanus, a stable increase of enzymatic activity in parallel with a rise of potentiation is observed. Sixty min after tetanus, at the point of maximal development of long-term PTP (the potentiation value is 170%), the specific activity of AChE rises by 89%. This increase was found to be due to synthesis of the enzyme de novo, with involvement of the majority of mitral cells and a significant part of granular cells.