Lack of regression of atherosclerotic lesions in phytosterol-treated apo E-deficient mice

We evaluated the effects of a phytosterol mixture (FCP-3PI) on the regression of atherosclerotic lesions in male apo E-deficient mice. Atherosclerosis was induced in fifteen mice by a "Western-type" diet containing 9% (w/w) fat and 0.15% (w/w) cholesterol over a period of 18 weeks (Induction phase). Then, two mice were used to evaluate the development of atherosclerosis, and the rest was divided into the control (n=6) and treated (n=7) groups. The control group was fed mouse chow (4.5% w/w fat) and the treated group fed the same chow supplemented with 2% (w/w) FCP-3PI for an additional 25 weeks (Regression phase). The mice developed severe hypercholesterolemia and advanced atherosclerotic lesions over the induction phase. During the first 6 weeks of regression phase, plasma cholesterol concentrations decreased at a similar rate (35%) in both groups of control and phytosterol-treated mice. Although evidence of lesion regression was not observed in either group of mice, the treated group had slightly smaller lesion size than the controls. During the induction phase, each mouse developed atherosclerotic lesions averaging 0.025 mm2 per week. However, during the regression phase, this was decreased to approximately one fifth and one third in the treated and control groups, respectively. Thus, compared to the end of the induction phase, the control group had a 40% increase in the lesion size, while this increase was only 28% in the treated animals. In conclusion, our previous findings along with a small decrease in the atherosclerotic lesion size observed in the treated group in the present study suggest that FCP-3PI treatment may slow the development of atherosclerotic lesions in apo E-deficient mice; however, a longer regression period may yield a greater benefit.     

神经生长因子对兔坐骨神经损伤后脊髓前角运动神经元乙酰胆碱酯酶的影响

钳夹损伤兔右坐骨神经,于损伤处注射蛇毒ＮＧＦ４００Ｂｕ／ｋｇ／日,损伤术后１,３,７天和２,３,４,６,８周动态观察脊髓腰段伤侧第Ⅸ板层外侧群的大型运动神经元的ＡＣｈＥ活性改变。结果表明术后１,３天实验组（指损伤给药组）和对照组（指损伤对照组）ＡＣｈＥ活性均下降（Ｐ＞００５）;术后１,２,３周对照组ＡＣｈＥ活性明显下降,而实验组ＡＣｈＥ活性逐渐趋于恢复（Ｐ＜００１）;术后６周实验组ＡＣｈＥ活性恢复至正常水平（Ｐ＜００１）。本研究显示蛇毒ＮＧＦ对坐骨神经损伤后脊髓前角运动神经元ＡＣｈＥ活性恢复有促进作用,从而对运动神经元可起一定的保护作用和促进恢复的作用     

Chronobiotic effect of melatonin following phase shift of light/dark cycles in the field mouseMus booduga

The objective of this study was to assess whether melatonin accelerates the re-entrainment of locomotor activity after 6 h of advance and delay phase shifts following exposure to LD 12:12 cycle (simulating jet-lag/shift work). An experimental group of adult male field mice Mus booduga were subjected to melatonin (1 mg/kg) through i.p. and the control group were treated with 50 % DMSO. The injections were administered on three consecutive days following 6h of phase advance and delay, at the expected time of “lights off”. The results show that melatonin accelerates the re-entrainment after phase advance (29%) when compared with control mice. In the 6 h phase delay study, the experimental mice (melatonin administered) take more cycles for re-entrainment (51%) than the control. Further, the results suggest that though melatonin may be useful for the treatment of jet-lag caused by eastward flight (phase advance) it may not be useful for westward flight (phase delay) jet-lag     

Lithium: evidence for reduction in circulating testosterone levels in mice following chronic administration

Lithium, the widely-used antipsychotic drug, is known to exert adverse effects on a number of endocrine organs. In the present investigations, the effects of chronic lithium administration on circulating levels of testosterone and plasma and pituitary levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) were evaluated in order to examine whether or not the pituitary-gonadal axis is a probable target of lithium action. Adult male C57BL/6 mice, maintained on a fixed photoperiodism (LD 14:10), were administered lithium orally, by being fed on a specially prepared chow containing 0.4% lithium chloride for 15 or 30 days, while their matched controls were maintained on standard laboratory chow. At the termination of the respective experimental schedules, the animals were decapitated, their blood collected, and plasma was separated and stored frozen. Pituitaries were quickly removed, weighed, homogenized, centrifuged and their supernatants were stored frozen. Testosterone in plasma and LH in pituitary and plasma were quantitated by standard RIA methods. Plasma Li concentration was determined by using flame photometric methods. A significant suppression in testosterone levels was noted after both 15 (p less than .01) and 30 (p less than .05) days of lithium treatment, but both pituitary and plasma LH levels remained unchanged at both the periods. It is, therefore, suggested that lithium exerts its effect directly at the level of the Leydig cells rather than through the pituitary-gonadal axis. Since the noted lithium-induced reduction of testosterone was manifested when the plasma lithium levels were within (or around) the therapeutic range, these results may have important clinical implications.     

Light and confocal microscopic observations of adult Schistosoma mansoni from mice fed on a high-fat diet

The morphological aspects of Schistosoma mansoni adult worms recovered from albino mice fed on a cholesterol-rich diet compared to mice fed on a standard chow were investigated. After feeding on their respective diets for over a period of 5 months, mice were subcutaneously infected with c. 50 S. mansoni cercariae/mouse. Blood samples were obtained 1 day prior to experimental infections and 63 days later, when mice were euthanized by jugular section (hypovolaemic shock). Total cholesterol (TC) levels were determined. Recovered worms were stained with hydrochloric carmine, and preserved as whole-mounts for examination by bright-field and laser confocal microscopy. The infected mice fed on high-fat chow showed higher levels of serum lipoproteins than the infected mice fed on standard chow, except for very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-c) and triglycerides (TG). In this experiment, worms from mice fed on a high-fat chow showed a greater percentage of morphological differentiation regarding supernumerary testes, seminal vesicle, and seminal receptacle. In mice of this group, the rate of oocyte laying in the ovary was much higher than in control females. The present results suggest that cholesterol could be actively involved in the modulation of cell signalling and reproduction, because the lobes contained fully developed oocytes in variable amounts, different from control males. The data presented here are the first to report the role of a cholesterol-rich diet affecting the development of S. mansoni worms.     

Altered glycosylation of acetylcholinesterase in APP (SW) Tg2576 transgenic mice occurs prior to amyloid plaque deposition

Previous studies have shown that a minor glycoform of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is increased in Alzheimer's disease brain and cerebrospinal fluid. This glycoform can be distinguished from other AChE species by its lack of binding to concanavalin A (Con A). In this study, the temporal relationship between AChE glycosylation and Abeta deposition was examined in Tg2576 mice. There was a significant (p < 0.05) difference in AChE glycosylation in Tg2576 mice compared with age-matched background strain control mice at 4 months of age. This difference in glycosylation was also observed in 8- and 12-month-old Tg2576 mice. In contrast, Abeta plaques were only seen in the Tg2576 mice at 12 months of age, and were not detected at 4 and 8 months of age. Soluble human-sequence Abeta was detected as early as 4 months of age in the transgenic mice. The altered AChE glycosylation was due to an increase in a minor AChE isoform, which did not bind Con A, similar to that previously observed to be increased in Alzheimer's disease brain and cerebrospinal fluid. The results demonstrate that in transgenic mice altered AChE glycosylation is associated with very early events in the development of AD-like pathology. The study supports the possibility that glycosylation may also be a useful biomarker of AD.     

急性给锂小鼠大脑皮层NOS活性与蛋白表达的时程变化

目的探讨急性给锂小鼠大脑皮层一氧化氮合酶(NOS)活性与蛋白表达的时程变化及其意义.方法选用昆明小鼠40只,分为对照组和腹腔注射1.5mmol/Kg氯化锂(LiCl)即刻、0.5h、1h、3h、6h、12h、24h组,每组5只.采用NADPH-d黄递酶组织化学和ABC免疫组化法,观察急性给锂后不同时程小鼠大脑皮层NOS和nNOS阳性神经元数目的变化.结果急性给锂即刻小鼠大脑皮层NOS和nNOS阳性神经元数目明显增加(P＜0.01),1h后达到高峰(P＜0.01),6h和12h恢复到正常水平(P＞0.05),24hNOS阳性神经元又明显增高(P＜0.01),nNOS阳性神经元处于正常水平(P＞0.05).结论本实验提示急性给锂对小鼠大脑皮层NOS和nNOS阳性神经元数目有一定影响,这种变化可能是锂影响脑发育及锂的神经毒性的机理之一.     

Acetylcholinesterase activation and enhanced lipid peroxidation after long-term exposure to low levels of aluminum on different mouse brain regions

Aluminum (Al), oxidative stress and impaired cholinergic functions have all been related to Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present study evaluates the effect of aluminum on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and lipid peroxidation in the mouse brain. Mice were loaded by gavage with Al 0.1 mmol/kg/day 5 days per week during 12 weeks. The mice were divided into four groups: (1) control; (2) 10 mg/mL of citrate solution; (3) 0.1 mmol/kg of Al solution; (4) 0.1 mmol/kg of Al plus 10 mg/mL of citrate solution. AChE activity was determined in the hippocampus, striatum, cortex, hypothalamus and cerebellum and lipid peroxidation was determined in the hippocampus, striatum and cortex. An increase of AChE activity was observed in the fourth group (Al + Ci) in the hippocampus (36%), striatum (54%), cortex (44%) and hypothalamus (22%) (p<0.01). The third group (Al) presented a decrease of AChE activity in the hypothalamus (20%) and an enhancement in the striatum (27%). Lipid peroxidation, measured by TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances), was elevated in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex when compared with the control (p < 0.01). The effect of aluminum on AChE activity may be due to a direct neurotoxic effect of the metal or perhaps a disarrangement of the plasmatic membrane caused by increased lipid peroxidation.     

Regeneration of ventral root axons into dorsal roots as shown by increased acetylcholinesterase activity

Regeneration of ventral root axons of the lumbar seventh (L7) segment into the dorsal L7 roots on the opposite side of cat spinal cord was shown by changes in the levels of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and pseudocholinesterase (PsChE). Low levels of AChE and PsChE were found in control dorsal roots, but when regenerating ventral root fibers entered the dorsal roots, there was a doubling of AChE activity within 2 weeks. Growth appears to start some time after the first week; this is in accord with earlier evidence based on axoplasmic flow of isotope labeled protein in this experimental preparation. The level of AChE activity in the reinnervated dorsal roots increased continually for about 100 days before reaching a plateau at approximately 20 × control levels. The gradual increase and the plateau of AChE activity is in accord with a maturation of the ventral root fibers which had regenerated into the dorsal roots. PsChE in the dorsal roots changes in parallel with AChE in a ratio of 1:10, suggesting that PsChE may in part be localized in the regenerating axons.     

mTOR/S6K1信号通路与胰岛素抵抗的关系及有氧运动对其影响的研究

目的:通过研究高脂饮食和有氧运动对胰岛素抵抗(IR)小鼠骨骼肌雷帕霉素靶蛋白/核糖体S6激酶1(mTOR/S6K1)通路的影响,试图为运动防治IR提供理论依据。方法:8周C57BL/6小鼠随机分为正常饮食组和高脂饮食组,每组各20只,高脂饮食组喂养8周后建立IR模型。随后将正常饮食组再次随机分为正常饮食安静组(NC)和正常饮食运动组(NE);高脂饮食组也随机分为高脂饮食安静组(HC)和高脂饮食运动组(HE)。各运动组进行为期6周、75%VO2max强度跑台训练,每天1次,每次60min,每周5次。实验结束后采用OGTT检测葡萄糖耐量,组织学检测胰岛形态变化,ELISA法检测血清空腹胰岛素水平,Northern blot、Western blot检测骨骼肌中mTOR和S6K1 mRNA和蛋白及其磷酸化蛋白pS6K1-Thr389的表达。结果:与NC组相比,HC组小鼠体重、空腹血清胰岛素值和胰岛β细胞团面积百分比均呈显著增加,且OGTT曲线显示糖耐量明显受损,然而6周有氧运动后以上各指标呈显著性降低,葡萄糖耐量也得到明显改善;且骨骼肌中mTOR、S6K1、pS6K1-Thr389 mRNA和蛋白表达均明显降低。结论:mTOR/S6K1信号通路与高脂饮食诱导IR的发生密切相关,有氧运动明显增加了机体组织对胰岛素的敏感性,推测有氧运动可能通过抑制mTOR/S6K1信号通路,增加IR小鼠骨骼肌的能量代谢从而改善IR。     

Hypermethioninemia Increases Cerebral Acetylcholinesterase Activity and Impairs Memory in Rats

In the present study we investigated the effect of chronic hypermethioninemia on rat performance in the Morris water maze task, as well as on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in rat cerebral cortex. For chronic treatment, rats received subcutaneous injections of methionine (1.34–2.68 μmol/g of body weight), twice a day, from the 6th to the 28th day of age; control rats received the same volume of saline solution. Groups of rats were killed 3 h, 12 h or 30 days after the last injection of methionine to AChE assay and another group was left to recover until the 60th day of life to assess the effect of early methionine administration on reference and working spatial memory of rats. AChE activity was also determined after behavioral task. Results showed that chronic treatment with methionine did not alter reference memory when compared to saline-treated animals. In the working memory task, we observed a significant days effect with significant differences between control and methionine-treated animals. Chronic hypermethioninemia significantly increased AChE activity at 3 h, 12 h or 30 days after the last injection of methionine, as well as before or after behavioral test. The effect of acute hypermethioninemia on AChE was also evaluated. For acute treatment, 29-day-old rats received one single injection of methionine (2.68 μmol/g of body weight) or saline and were killed 1, 3 or 12 h later. Results showed that acute administration of methionine did not alter cerebral cortex AChE activity. Our findings suggest that chronic experimental hypermethioninemia caused cognitive dysfunction and an increase of AChE activity that might be related, at least in part, to the neurological problems presented by hypermethioninemic patients.     

牛磺酸抗小鼠动脉粥样硬化的研究

为了探讨牛磺酸抗小鼠动脉粥样硬化的影响及可能机制,将C57BL/6J小鼠分成五组,正常对照组给予基础饲料喂养,高脂组给予高脂饲料,牛磺酸组分别给予含1.0%、3.0%和5.0%牛磺酸的高脂饲料,实验时间为90d。结果表明,高脂组小鼠主动脉内膜和肝脏发生了粥样硬化病变和脂肪变性,而牛磺酸组病变程度随剂量增大而减轻。高脂组较正常对照组血清及肝脏甘油三酯(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-c)、动脉硬化指数(AI)显著升高,高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-c)显著降低;牛磺酸组较高脂组显著改善。可见牛磺酸可通过改善脂质代谢紊乱发挥抗动脉粥样硬化的作用。     

Cholinesterases in dexrazoxane-treated daunorubicin cardiomyopathy in rabbits

Changes in cholinesterases activities in daunorubicin cardiomyopathy and in dexrazoxane (DRZX)-treated daunorubicin cardiomyopathy were investigated in rabbits. Acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase (AChE and BuChE) were determined using Ellman's method. In the serum, a significant decrease of BuChE was observed in the daunorubicin group (9.05 at the beginning and 7.15 microcat/l at the end of the experiment). After DRZX, no significant changes were found and a significant increase in BuChE was observed in the control group (10.26-12.38 microcat/l). AChE activity in the left and right cardiac ventricles was not significantly different between the groups while in the septum there was a significantly lower AChE activity found in the daunorubicin group only. BuChE activity was significantly decreased in the left (15.64 ncat/g) and right (19.27 ncat/g) heart ventricles, in the septum and in the liver in the daunorubicin group. A significant decrease in serum total protein and albumin was demonstrated only in the daunorubicin group. Our results support the hypothesis about the influence of daunorubicin on protein (and enzyme) synthesis in the liver and heart. A protective effect of DRZX on cholinesterases activity was observed. The changes in cholinesterase activities may thus reflect their possible role in cardiomyopathy.     

Temporospatial localization of acetylcholinesterase activity in the dental epithelium during mouse tooth development

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), a principal modulator of cholinergic neurotransmission, also has been demonstrated to be involved in the morphogenetic processes of neuronal and non-neuronal tissues. This study shows that AChE exhibits temporospatial activity in the dental epithelium of the developing mouse tooth. To identify the AChE activity in the mouse tooth during development, we performed enzyme histochemistry on the mouse embryos from embryonic day 13 (E13) to E18 and on the incisors and molars of the neonatal mouse at 10 days after birth (P10). In the developing molars of mouse embryos, AChE activity was not found in the dental epithelium at E13 (bud stage). AChE activity first appeared in the developing cervical loops of the enamel organ at E14 (cap stage), but was not found in the enamel knot. At E18 (bell stage), AChE activity was localized in the inner enamel epithelium except the cervical-loop area. In the incisors and molars of neonatal mice (P10), AChE activity was localized in the inner enamel epithelium of the cervical-loop and enamel-free area. Overall, AChE activity was localized in the differentiating dental epithelium while the activity of butyrylcholinesterse, another cholinesterase, was located primarily in the cells of the dental follicle. The results suggest that AChE may play a role in the histo- and cytodifferentiation of dental epithelium during tooth development.     

Inhibition of erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase by n-butanol at high concentrations

Erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is bound to the membrane by a complex glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor, so the effect of alcohol on AChE activity may reflect direct and/or membrane-mediated effects. The indication of a direct interaction between n-butanol and AChE molecules is the activation/inhibition of AChE by occupation of the enzyme's active and/or regulatory sites by alcohol. The activation of AChE can occur only at low concentrations of alcohols, while at high concentrations AChE is inhibited. In this work the mechanism of inhibition of erythrocyte AChE by n-butanol at high concentrations was studied. The values of activity, calculated assuming parabolic competitive inhibition, which implies that one or two molecules of inhibitor bind to the enzyme, fit well to the experimental values. From the values of the inhibition constants it was concluded that at high n-butanol concentrations two alcohol molecules usually interact with AChE.     

Recovery of Acetylcholinesterase in the Diaphragm, Brain, and Plasma of the Rat After Irreversible Inhibition by Soman: A Study of Cytochemical Localization and Molecular Forms of the Enzyme in the Motor End Plate

Abstract Recovery of AChE activity in the motor end plate region and end plate free region of the rat diaphragm was studied after irreversible inhibition by soman. Recovery was slow during the first 2 days and only 4 S and 10 S molecular forms of AChE were present in the end plate region. However, cytochemical evidence indicates that synaptic AChE has already started to accumulate and that the synthesis of AChE in muscle and Schwann cell might even be enhanced. Tubular structures, observed underneath the motor end plate, may serve to transport the enzyme from its sites of synthesis in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Asymmetric molecular forms of AChE in the end plate region appeared later during recovery and, one week after poisoning, their activity was only about 50% of normal value. The limited ability of newly synthesized AChE to attach to the subcellular structures and, therefore, to be retained in the muscle, may explain the phase of slow recovery. In accordance with this view, AChE activity in brain recovered in a similar way as in muscle, whereas soluble plasma cholinesterases recovered faster, apparently without a slow initial phase.     

Decreased G4 (10S) Acetylcholinesterase Content in Motor Nerves to Fast Muscles of Dystrophic 129/ReJ Mice: Lack of a Specific Compartment of Nerve Acetylcholinesterase?

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7) activity and the distribution of its molecular forms were studied in the nervous system of normal and dystrophic 129/ReJ mice, including the sciatic-tibial nerve trunk and motor nerves to slow- and fast-twitch muscles. In normal mice, motor nerves to the slow-twitch soleus exhibited a low AChE activity together with a low level of G4 (10S form) as compared with nerves of the predominantly fast-twitch plantaris and extensor digitorum longus. In contrast, in dystrophic mice, the AChE activity as well as the G4 content of nerves to the fast-twitch muscles were low, displaying an AChE content similar to that of the nerve of the soleus muscle. In the sciatic-tibial nerve trunk, the AChE activity decreased along the nerve in an exponential mode, at rates that were similar in both conditions. However, in dystrophic mice, the AChE activity was reduced throughout the nerve length by a constant value of approximately 180 nmol/h/mg protein. Further analyses indicated that AChE in this nerve trunk was distributed among two compartments, a decaying and a constant one. The decay involved exclusively the globular forms. The activity of A12 (16S form) remained constant along the nerve and was similar in both normal and dystrophic mice. In addition, according to the equation describing the decay of AChE, the reduction in enzymatic activity observed in the dystrophic mice affected mainly G4 in the constant compartment. Brain, spinal cord, sympathetic ganglia, and serum, which were also examined, showed no remarkable differences between the two conditions in their G4 content. The AChE abnormalities that we found in nervous tissues of 129/ReJ dystrophic mice were confined to the motor system.     

Memory Enhancing Activity of Naringin in Unstressed and Stressed Mice: Possible Cholinergic and Nitriergic Modulation

The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of Naringin on memory of unstressed and stressed Swiss young albino mice. Naringin (80?mg/kg, i.p.) and donepezil (10?mg/kg) were administered for 21 successive days to separate groups of unstressed and stressed mice. The nootropic activity was evaluated using elevated plus maze and Hebbs Williams Maze. Brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE), brain nitrite and plasma corticosterone levels were also estimated. unpredictable chronic mild stress was produced by using different stressors. Naringin (80?mg/kg) and donepezil significantly showed memory enhancing activity in both unstressed and stressed mice. Naringin significantly reduced brain AChE activity and brain nitrite levels in both unstressed and stressed mice. Naringin (80?mg/kg) significantly reversed scopolamine-induced amnesia in unstressed and stressed mice. 7-Nitroindazole [a neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor] and aminoguanidine (an inducible NOS inhibitor) significantly enhanced memory improving activity and brain nitrite decreasing effect of naringin in unstressed and stressed mice respectively. Plasma corticosterone levels were significantly decreased by naringin (80?mg/kg) in stressed mice as compared to its control. Thus, naringin showed memory enhancing activity in unstressed mice probably by decreasing brain AChE activity and by inhibition of neuronal NOS. The memory enhancing activity of naringin in stressed mice might be due to decrease in brain AChE activity, inhibition of inducible NOS and also by decreasing the elevated plasma corticosterone levels.     

Changes of AChE activity in ovarian nerves of pigs in different periods of the oestrous cycle: relationship to ovarian steroids

The morphological features of cholinergic nerves in the ovary, a determination of the level of acetylcholinesterase activity in different periods of the oestrous cycle and an attempt to determine if a relationship existe between AChE activity and the hormonal state of animal are described in this paper. Mature pigs were randomly assigned to 3 experimental groups and killed on 1st to 2nd d of oestrous cycle (group I; n = 6), on 13th to 14th d (group II; n = 7), and 16th to 18th d of the oestrous cycle (group III; n = 6). First signs of oestrus were designated the zeroth d. Histochemical evaluation of the most abundant cholinergic innervation was shown in ovaries of animals in group III, weaker cholinergic representation was found in animals of group I, and weakest in group II. Whereas the lowest activity of AChE determined by biochemical test was observed in the ovaries of group I, AChE activity in the ovaries on 13 to 14 and 16 to 18 d of oestrous cycle was 8- to 10-fold higher, respectively, in relation to the animals of group I. These results suggest that there exists a relationship between AChE activity in the ovary and ovarian steroid hormones and that this may be an important factor regulating the ovarian blood flow in the course of oestrous cycle in pigs.     

INCREASE IN THE APPARENT AChE ACTIVITY IN THE MOUSE DIAPHRAGM INDUCED BY PROTEOLYTIC TREATMENT

Abstract— Isolated endplate regions from the mouse diaphragm were treated with different agents before or after homogenization in order to solubilize junctional AChE and study the effect of solubilization on its apparent activity. Total AChE activity (solubilized + nonsolubilized) of samples treated with collagenase or papain before homogenization was nearly twice as high as in control samples. If collagenase was added after homogenization no increase in apparent activity was observed although in both cases about 70–80% of AChE activity was solubilized. The access of ACh to the membrane-bound enzyme is probably not a limiting factor in the AChE assay as is the case in the electric organ homogenates. Both 1 m -NaCl and Triton X-100 were quite ineffective as solubilizers when applied before homogenization and had an insignificant effect on the apparent AChE activity.
The increase in apparent AChE activity cannot be explained either by a de novo synthesis or by the change in kinetic properties of different species of AChE, or by the release of AChE possibly sequestrated in the membrane vesicles. The possibility is discussed that a part of junctional AChE is inactivated at the beginning of homogenization while it can be preserved by previous solubilization, or that proteolytic treatment may activate some 'silent' AChE sites in motor endplates.
However, the mere fact that the difference does exist suggests that all AChE activity present in intact motor endplates may not be measurable after homogenization.