Studies on the Alkylation of Choline Acetyltransferase by Choline Mustard Aziridinium Ion

Although a potent irreversible inhibitor of high-affinity choline transport in rat brain synaptosomes, choline mustard aziridinium ion (ChM Az) appeared to be a relatively weak inhibitor of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in rat brain homogenates, and evidence for irreversible binding of this compound to the enzyme had not been established. Accordingly, the irreversible inactivation of partially purified rat brain ChAT by ChM Az was studied. This compound is a rather weak inhibitor of the enzyme, with 50% inhibition of ChAT activity achieved following 30 min incubation at 37 degrees C with 0.6 mM ChM Az. This result indicates that although ChM Az has affinity for many nucleophiles there was little diluting effect of the inhibitor in the crude brain homogenate which could be attributed to such reactions (50% inhibition caused by 1.8 mM ChM Az following 10 min incubation). Although the initial binding of ChM Az to ChAT may be of a competitive nature, irreversible bond formation resulted. The time-dependent alkylation reaction conformed to pseudo-first-order kinetics with an observed forward rate constant (kobs) of 0.173 min-1; the half-time (t 1/2) for irreversible binding was about 4 min. The irreversible inactivation of ChAT by ChM Az would appear to be slower than the alkylation of high-affinity choline carriers in synaptosomes by this compound, and the relatively weak inhibitory action of ChM Az against either partially purified ChAT or ChAT activity in crude rat brain homogenates is in striking contrast to previous evidence that ChAT in intact synaptosomes was inhibited irreversibly by lower concentrations of the inhibitor.     

Characterization of the Irreversible Inhibition of High-Affinity Choline Transport Produced by Hemicholinium Mustard

The inhibition of high-affinity choline transport by hemicholinium mustard (HCM), an alkylating analogue of hemicholinium-3, was examined in rat brain synaptosomes and guinea pig myenteric plexus. In synaptosomes, 50% high-affinity choline transport inhibition occurs with an HCM concentration of 104 nM (4-min incubation). A 10-min preincubation with 10 microM HCM results in essentially complete (greater than 95%) inactivation that persists after washing. Low-affinity choline transport in synaptosomes is unaffected by HCM inhibition at all concentrations examined (1-50 microM). Time course experiments indicate that the maximum irreversible inhibition (58%) seen after a 1-min preincubation with 500 nM HCM decreases to 46% inhibition after a 15-min preincubation; however, analysis of variance reveals that this difference is not significant. HCM inhibition of acetylcholine release from myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle preparations persists for at least 2 h after removal of drug from the incubation bath; this inactivation can be prevented by coincubation with a high choline concentration during treatment with the mustard. In contrast, inhibition produced by the parent compound hemicholinium-3 is largely reversed by washing in both preparations examined. The observed potency and selectivity of HCM suggest its usefulness as a covalent probe for high-affinity choline transport.     

Reversible and Irreversible Inhibition of High-Affinity Choline Transport Caused by Ethylcholine Aziridinium Ion

The effect of ethylcholine aziridinium ion (AF64A) on choline transport in hippocampal, striatal, and cerebrocortical synaptosomes was studied. Synaptosomes prepared from these three brain regions were equally sensitive to AF64A. Low concentrations of AF64A produced a reversible inhibition (IC50 values = 1.35-2.25 microM), whereas higher concentrations produced an irreversible inhibition (IC50 values = 25-30 microM), which started as competitive. The irreversible component of the inhibition was independent of extracellular Na+ concentration, a finding suggesting that the choline transporter is alkylated at its outward position. The kinetics of the inhibition were rapid and similar in the three brain regions examined. The high-affinity choline transport was more sensitive to the toxin than the low-affinity choline transport. Based on these results, we propose a kinetic model that explains the reversible and the irreversible inhibitions induced by AF64A. The possible relationships between the concentrations that in vitro produce reversible and irreversible inhibition and those that in vivo produce selective and nonselective cholinergic hypofunction are discussed.     

Synaptosomal "Membrane-Bound" Choline Acetyltransferase Is Most Sensitive to Inhibition by Choline Mustard

The objectives of the present study were to validate the presence of cytoplasmic and membrane-associated pools of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in rat brain synaptosomes, and to evaluate inhibition of these different forms of the enzyme by the nitrogen mustard analogue of choline, choline mustard aziridinium ion (ChM Az). The relative distribution of ChAT and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was followed in subfractions of synaptosomes to establish whether ChAT activity associated with salt-washed presynaptic membranes represents membrane-bound protein rather than cytosolic enzyme trapped within undisrupted synaptosomes or revesiculated membrane fragments. The percentage of total synaptosomal ChAT activity (14%) recovered in the final membrane pellet always exceeded that of LDH (6%), lending support to the hypothesis that much of the ChAT associated with the membranes was a membrane bound form of the enzyme. Incubation of purified synaptosomes with ChM Az led to irreversible inhibition of ChAT activity; this loss of enzyme activity could not be accounted for by lysis of nerve terminals during incubation in the presence of the mustard analogue. Subfractionation of the ChM Az-treated nerve terminals revealed that the membrane-bound form of ChAT was inhibited to the greatest extent, followed by the ionically membrane-associated enzyme, with the activity of the water-solubilized enzyme not differing significantly from control. Preparation of the synaptosomal ChAT subfractions from untreated nerve terminals prior to incubation with varying concentrations of ChM Az or naphthylvinylpyridine revealed that under these conditions water-solubilized, ionically membrane-associated, and detergent-solubilized membrane-bound pools of ChAT were not differentially inhibited by either compound.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Specificity of Ethylcholine Mustard Aziridinium as an Irreversible Inhibitor of Choline Transport in Cholinergic and Noncholinergic Tissue

The sensitivity of choline transport to inhibition by ethylcholine mustard aziridinium (ECMA) was studied in several tissues. Choline transport was found to be inhibited irreversibly by ECMA in guinea pig and rat synaptosomes but not inhibited in erythrocytes or kidney slices. If this finding can be extended to other tissues ECMA sensitivity may provide a simple criterion for identifying the choline carrier associated with cholinergic tissue.     

Kinetic Data on the Inhibition of High-affinity Choline Transport into Rat Forebrain Synaptosomes by Choline-like Compounds and Nitrogen Mustard Analogues

Abstract: A series of choline analogues and nitrogen mustard derivatives were evaluated as inhibitors of high-affinity transport of choline in rat forebrain synaptosomes. When synaptosomes were preincubated for 10 min with choline mustard aziridinium ion, monoethylcholine and monoethylcholine mustard aziridinium ion, the agents appeared to be equipotent as inhibitors of high-affinity uptake (K_i=2.63, 3.15 and 2.72 μm , respectively). Acetylcholine mustard aziridinium ion was less potent than these compounds (K_i= 27.8 μm ), but it was more potent than ethoxycholine and ethoxycholine mustard aziridinium ion (K_i= 500 and 403 μm ) as a blocker of choline transport. From study with these compounds it was concluded that the high-affinity choline transport mechanism shows specificity for hydroxylated compounds over those in which the same hydroxyl has been acetylated (10-fold) and that the carbonyl oxygen of the acetylated analogues is important, as its removal (to form the ethylether derivative) decreased affinity another 20-fold. The presence of an aziridinium ring on the quaternary nitrogen in place of two methyl groups did not affect the blocking of transport at 10 min of inhibitor preincubation and replacement of a methyl group on the nitrogen by an ethyl group did not alter affinity for the high-affinity carrier. The aziridinium ring on the nitrogen of the mustard analogues was important, however, in determining the extent of reversibility of the binding of these agents to the carrier protein. Choline transport was not restored by washing synaptosomes that were incubated with choline mustard aziridinium ion or monoethylcholine mustard aziridinium ion, but was readily obtained in washed synaptosomes preincubated with monoethylcholine, hemicholinium-3, or pyrrolcholine. The results indicate that the mustard analogues may be potent alkylators of the high-affinity choline carrier and thus, useful agents in monitoring acetylcholine turnover in systems where the carrier is blocked.     

Regulation of Rat Brain Synaptosomal [3H]Hemicholinium-3 Binding and [3H]Choline Transport Sites Following Exposure to Choline Mustard Aziridinium Ion

Abstract: Choline uptake by cholinergic nerve terminals is increased by depolarization; the literature suggests that this results from either the appearance of occult transporters or the increased activity of existing ones. The present experiments attempt to clarify the mechanism by which choline transport is regulated by testing if the preexposure of synaptosomes to choline mustard aziridinium ion prevents the stimulation-induced appearance of hemicholinium-3 binding sites and/or choline transport activity. Choline mustard inhibited irreversibly most of the “ground-state” (basal) high-affinity choline transport but only 50% of “ground-state” hemicholinium-3 binding sites. Exposure of both striatal and hippocampal synaptosomes to the mustard, before stimulation, inhibited K⁺-stimulated increases in choline transport and of [³H]hemicholinium-3 binding. We conclude that the mechanism by which choline transport is regulated involves the increased activity of a pool of transport sites that are occluded to hemicholinium-3 but are available to choline mustard aziridinium ion, and presumably to choline, before stimulation. However, the concentration of mustard needed to inhibit the stimulation-induced increase of [³H]hemicholinium-3 binding and choline transport was lower for striatal synaptosomes than for hippocampal synaptosomes. In the absence of extracellular Ca²⁺ or presence of high Mg²⁺ levels, the choline mustard did not prevent the appearance of extra striatal hemicholinium-3 binding sites. Also, high Mg²⁺ levels removed the ability of the mustard to inhibit K⁺-stimulated increases of either [³H]hemicholinium-3 binding or choline transport by hippocampal synaptosomes. In contrast, the preexposure of hippocampal synaptosomes to the mustard in the presence of a calcium ionophore (A23187) reduced the concentration of inhibitor needed to prevent the activation of [³H]hemicholinium-3 binding and choline uptake. Thus, we conclude that the ability of the choline mustard to alkylate the pool of choline transporters that are activated by stimulation appears dependent on the entry of extracellular Ca²⁺.     

AF64A: An Active Site Directed Irreversible Inhibitor of Choline Acetyltransferase

Ethylcholine mustard aziridinium ion (AF64A, MEChMAz) has been proposed as a cholinergic neuron-specific neurotoxin. We report that in further studies on its mechanism of action incubation of the cholinergic neuroblastoma X glioma cell line, NG-108-15, with 100 microM AF64A resulted in a rapid decrease in cellular choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity which preceded cytotoxicity. Thus, a 60-85% decrease in ChAT activity was measured within 5 h of AF64A exposure, whereas cell lysis (measured as the release of the cytosolic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase into the medium) did not become apparent until 18 h of AF64A exposure. This led us to examine the effects of AF64A on partially purified ChAT. We report a concentration- and time-dependent inhibition of partially purified ChAT by AF64A that could not be reversed by dialysis but could be prevented by coincubation of the enzyme and AF64A with choline but not with acetyl-coenzyme A. We present kinetic evidence that choline and AF64A compete for the same site on the enzyme. In addition, thiosulfate, which inactivates the aziridinium ion, eliminated AF64A's capacity to inhibit the enzyme. AF64A also irreversibly inhibited partially purified choline kinase and acetylcholinesterase but not lactate dehydrogenase, alcohol dehydrogenase, carboxypeptidase A, or chymotrypsinogen, enzymes that do not use choline as a substrate or product. Thus, the data suggest that AF64A acts as an irreversible active site directed inhibitor of ChAT and possibly other enzymes recognizing choline.     

Cyclic AMP-Mediated Enhancement of High-Affinity Choline Transport and Acetylcholine Synthesis in Brain

Abstract: Intracerebroventricular administration of N⁶, 2′-O-dibutyryladenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (db-cyclic AMP) to mice increased high-affinity choline transport (HAChT) into synaptosomal preparations from the hippocampus, striatum, and frontal cortex in a time-dose-, and brain region-dependent manner. Similar observations were made when the cyclic AMP analogue 8-bromo-cyclic AMP, the adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin, and the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine were administered. Inhibition of phosphatase 1 and 2A, with okadaic acid, increased basal choline transport and enhanced the response to db-cyclic AMP. The early increase of HAChT activity induced by db-cyclic AMP was blocked by H-7 and H-89, protein kinase A inhibitors, but not by cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor. Kinetic analysis of the early changes of HAChT revealed an increase in the apparent V_max without a change of the K_m for choline. Hemicholinium-3 (HC-3) binding was not altered when studied 1 h after db-cyclic AMP administration. In contrast, HC-3 binding and HAChT activity were both elevated when estimated 3 h after the treatment, and pretreatment with cycloheximide partially prevented the db-cyclic AMP-induced HAChT rise. As evidence that enhanced HAChT is associated with a direct action of cyclic AMP-dependent pathways on the cholinergic nerve terminals, addition of 8-bromocyclic AMP to isolated hippocampal synaptosomes induced an increase of HAChT that was prevented by H-89. Choline acetyltransferase activity was not affected at any time during the studies. The synthesis of acetylcholine, however, was enhanced 1 h after db-cyclic AMP addition. Our studies show that cyclic AMP-mimetic compounds appear to modulate the choline carrier by a dual mode: an early increase of the maximal velocity without a change of the number of HC-3 binding sites and a late rise of transport that is accompanied by an increase of HC-3 binding. We postulate that HAChT and consequently acetylcholine synthesis in vivo is modulated, in part, by protein kinase A.     

Affinity Labelling and Identification of the High-Affinity Choline Carrier from Synaptic Membranes of Torpedo Electromotor Nerve Terminals with [3H]Choline Mustard

The physiological mechanisms regulating activity of the sodium-dependent, high-affinity choline transporter and the molecular events in the translocation process remain unclear; the protein has not been purified or characterized biochemically. In the present study, [3H]choline mustard aziridinium ion [( 3H]ChM Az), a nitrogen mustard analogue of choline, bound irreversibly to presynaptic plasma membranes from Torpedo electric organ in a hemicholinium-sensitive, and sodium-, time-, and temperature-dependent manner. Specific binding of this ligand was greatest when it was incubated with membranes in the presence of sodium at 30 degrees C. Separation of the 3H-labelled membrane proteins by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that most of the radiolabel was associated with a polypeptide of apparent molecular mass of approximately 42,000 daltons; labelling of this species was abolished in membranes incubated with ligand in the presence of HC-3. Two other 3H-labelled polypeptides were detected, with apparent molecular masses of approximately 58,000 and 90,000 daltons; radiolabelling of the former was also HC-3 sensitive. [3H]ChM Az may be a useful affinity ligand in the purification of the choline carrier from cholinergic neurons.     

The Independency of Choline Transport and Acetylcholine Synthesis

The coupling of choline transport to acetylcholine synthesis has been investigated by measurement of the isotopic dilution of a pulse of [3H]choline during its incorporation into the recently synthesised acetylcholine of cerebral cortex synaptosomes. Recently synthesised acetylcholine was identified as that containing 14C-labelled precursors introduced by a preincubation before the pulse. When [14C]glucose was used to label acetyl-CoA coupling ratios (calculated as the inverse of the dilution of extracellular [3H]choline during its incorporation into [3H]acetylcholine) of about 0.05-0.2 were found at a choline concentration of 1 microM, rising to 0.5 at choline concentrations of 10-50 microM. Experiments using [14C]choline as a precursor gave similar results, and it was shown that the isotopic dilution did not occur extrasynaptosomally and was not affected by low glucose concentrations. Coupling ratios were always less than unity and rose as the choline concentration increased. It is concluded that choline transported into the nerve terminal has no privileged access to choline acetyltransferase. The results can be explained by a rate-controlling transport of choline into the terminal followed by its rapid acetylation rather than any linkage or coupling of the two processes.     

Inhibition of High-Affinity Choline Uptake and Acetylcholine Synthesis by Quinuclidinyl and Hemicholinium Derivatives

Choline uptake into cholinergic neurons for acetylcholine (ACh) synthesis is by a specific, high-affinity, sodium- and temperature-dependent transport mechanism (HAChU). To assess the role of choline availability in regulation of ACh synthesis, the structure-activity relationships of several hemicholinium (HC) and quinuclidinyl analogs were evaluated in a dose response manner. As confirms previous studies, the HCs, e.g., HC-3, acetylsecohemicholinium, and HC-15 are potent inhibitors of HAChU, HC-3 being the most potent (I50 = 6.1 X 10(-8) M). In the present study, the most potent quinuclidinyl derivative was the N-methyl-3-quinuclidinone (I50 = 5.6 X 10(-7) M). This compound had approximately 100-fold greater inhibitory activity than the corresponding racemic alcohol, suggesting that the 3-hydroxyl functional group is not absolutely essential for activity. Increasing the size of the N-functional group from a methyl to an allyl in the alcohol led to a 10-fold increase in activity. However, removal of the quaternizing N-methyl group yielding the tertiary amine, 3-quinuclidinol hydrochloride, greatly reduced its capacity to inhibit HAChU. Of the 2-benzylidene-3-quinuclidinone derivatives studied, only the m-chloro derivative significantly reduced HAChU.     

The Structural Specificity of Choline Transport into Cholinergic Nerve Terminals

Abstract: The accumulation of choline, homocholine, and 4-hydroxybutyl-trimethylammonium by rat brain synaptosomes was measured; the choline uptake mechanism transported homocholine but not hydroxybutyltrimethylammonium, which, in addition, did not block choline accumulation. In cats'superior cervical ganglia, preganglionic nerve stimulation increased the accumulation of homocholine, but not that of hydroxybutyltrimethylammonium. It is concluded that the substrate specificity of the choline transport mechanism is such that increasing the N-O atom distance by one methylene group retains affinity, but increasing this distance by two methylene groups does not.     

High-Affinity Choline Transport Regulation by Drug Administration During Postnatal Development

High-affinity choline transport sites specifically bind [3H]hemicholinium-3. Hemicholinium-3 binding sites are regulated by in vivo drug treatments in the same manner as these drugs alter acetylcholine release and high-affinity choline transport. The current study examines regulation of binding sites by in vivo drug administration for adult, day 15, and day 5 rats. Drugs or saline were administered intraperitoneally, and striatal and cortical membrane preparations were assayed. Control [3H]hemicholinium-3 binding increases twofold between postnatal days 5 and 15 only in striatum. After day 15, binding increases 2.7-fold in cortex and striatum. Nicotine treatment increases striatal and cortical hemicholinium-3 binding at all three ages, with greater percent increases at day 5. Haloperidol increases binding only in striatum, again with larger effects at day 5. Both striatal and cortical binding are reduced by oxotremorine; however, the magnitude of this effect is unchanged during development. Pentobarbital reduces binding only in striatum, with no developmental change. Atropine and apomorphine do not change binding from control values. In summary, all drug treatments effective in adults were already effective by day 5. Cholinergic terminals present early in development are regulated by similar nicotinic and muscarinic cholinergic, dopaminergic, and sedative-hypnotic mechanisms as the adult. Changes in magnitude may be due to changes in drug metabolism or to developmental differences in regulation.     

Reexamining the Role of Choline Transporter-Like (Ctlp) Proteins in Choline Transport

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, choline enters the cell via a single high-affinity transporter, Hnmlp. hnm1delta cells lacking HNM1 gene are viable. However, they are unable to transport choline suggesting that no additional active choline transporters are present in this organism. A complementation study of a choline auxotrophic mutant, ctrl-ise (hnm1-ise), using a cDNA library from Torpedo marmorata electric lobe identified a membrane protein named Torpedo marmorata choline transporter-like, tCtl1p. tCtllp was proposed to mediate a high-affinity choline transport (O'Regan et al., 1999, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.). Homologs of tCtl1p have been identified in other organisms, including yeast (Pns1p, YOR161c) and are postulated to function as choline transporters. Here we provide several lines of evidence indicating that Ctlp proteins are not involved in choline transport. Loss of PNS1 has no effect on choline transport and overexpression of either PNS1 or tCTL1 does not restore choline uptake activity of choline transport-defective mutants. The data presented here call into question the role of proteins of the CTL family in choline transport and suggest that the mechanism by which tCTL1 complements hnm1-ise mutant is independent of its ability to transport choline.     

Stereospecificity of High-and Low-Affinity Transport of Choline Analogues into Rat Cortical Synaptosomes

The present experiments used methylcholines to examine the stereoselectivity of choline transport into rat synaptosomes. R(+)-alpha-methylcholine and S(+)-beta-methylcholine were significantly better inhibitors of the high-affinity choline transport system than were their enantiomers. Although both enantiomers of alpha- and of beta-methylcholine inhibited [3H]choline transport, only R(+)-alpha-methylcholine and S(+)-beta-methylcholine could be transported by the high-affinity choline uptake mechanism. Therefore, we conclude that the chiral requirements for recognition of and for transport by the high-affinity transporter are clearly different. In addition to high-affinity choline transport, Na(+)-independent low-affinity transport was measured. This process transported R(+)-alpha-methylcholine, but not S(-)-alpha-methylcholine; however, it showed no stereoselectivity for the enantiomers of beta-methylcholine. Thus, high- and low-affinity choline transport mechanisms exhibit distinct differences in their substrate selectivities. We suggest that the stereoselective properties of choline transport might present a unique opportunity to study choline uptake and metabolism.     

Inhibition of Synaptosomal Neurotransmitter Uptake by Hallucinogens

The effect of 13 hallucinogens on the uptake of serotonin and norepinephrine into hippocampal synaptosomes and of serotonin and dopamine into caudate synaptosomes was found to be inhibitory, except for lysergic acid diethylamide and 2-bromolysergic acid diethylamide, which were inactive. The indoleal-kylamines were generally more potent than the phenylethylamines. The reported inhibition of uptake of serotonin by 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine and lysergic acid diethylamide into whole brain synaptosomes was not reproducible at concentrations 10² to 10⁴ times higher than those stated in the literature.     

Acetylation of Synaptosomal Protein: Inhibition by Veratridine

Abstract: Incubation of synaptosomes with [³H]acetate results in rapid labeling of protein. Labeling is decreased in the presence of veratridine, and the effect of veratridine is blocked by tetrodotoxin. Most of the radioactivity can be removed by base or acid hydrolysis, and is probably incorporated as acetate; it is this fraction that is affected by the veratridine. The data suggest that veratridine stimulates deacetylation of synaptosomal protein. This raises the question whether acetylation-deacetylation is involved in membrane function.     

Stereoselectivity of the Inhibition of [3H]Hemicholinium-3 Binding to the Sodium-Dependent High-Affinity Choline Transporter by the Enantiomers of a- and β-Methylcholine

Abstract: In a previous report, we showed that the enantiomers of α- and β-methylcholine inhibited choline uptake with Stereoselectivity, but that their transport by the choline carrier of nerve terminals showed stereospecificity. The present experiments used the same choline analogues to determine if either of the above characteristics pertains to their ability to interact with the [³H]-hemicholinium-3 binding site present on striatal membranes and synaptosomes. [³H]Hemicholinium-3 binding to striatal membranes could be inhibited stereoselectively by the enantiomers of β-methylcholine, but R (+)-α-methyl-choline was little better than its enantiomer in this test. However, [³H]hemicholinium-3 binding to striatal synaptosomes was inhibited stereoselectively by the enantiomers of both α- and β-methylcholine. This difference between the properties of [³H]hemicholinium-3 binding to membranes or to synaptosomes appears related to the presence of two ligand binding states. The [³H]hemicholinium-3 binding site could be shifted to a low-affinity state by ATP treatment and to a high-affinity state by EDTA washing. When the [³H]hemicholinium-3 binding site existed in its low-affinity state, binding was inhibited stereoselectively by the enantiomers of both a- and β-methylcholine, but when shifted to its high-affinity state, it was inhibited stereoselectively only by the enantiomers of β–methylcholine. We conclude that hemicholinium-3 interacts with the substrate recognition site of the high-affinity choline transporter, but that the Stereoselectivity of this site changes depending on its affinity state.     

Effect of Nerve Growth Factor in Ethylcholine Mustard Aziridinium (AF64A)-Treated Rats: Sensitization of Cholinergic Enzyme Activity in the Septohippocampal Pathway

Abstract: In this study, we examined the effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) administration on cholinergic enzyme activity in both normal and ethylcholine mustard aziridinium (AF64A)-treated rats. Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase activity were measured in the hippocampus and septum of rats chronically administered NGF (0.36–2.85 µg/day) into the lateral ventricle for 14 days. In both normal and AF64A-treated rats, NGF increased cholinergic enzyme activity in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, although NGF increased ChAT activity in normal rats by 147%, it had a greater effect in AF64A-treated rats, increasing ChAT activity as much as 273%. NGF increased acetylcholinesterase activity in normal rats by only 125% but produced a 221% increase in this activity in AF64A-treated rats. These data indicate that AF64A produces an increased sensitivity to NGF in cholinergic neurons.