| Abstract: | The activity of choline acetyltransferase and acetyl-cholinesterase in different tissues of the digestive tract was measured after a single injection of pentagastrin. Thirty minutes after pentagastrin injection choline acetyltransferase activity in the stomach and ileum was 25 and 32% increased, respectively. The enzyme activity in the stomach returned to the control level 60 min after the hormone treatment, while in the duodenum, ileum and colon it was found to be 26, 35 and 23% higher, respectively, compared to the corresponding saline control. Acetylcholinesterase activity was measured only in the stomach and ileum at 7, 30 and 60 min after pentagastrin injection. Only 7 min after pentagastrin administration acetylcholin-esterase activity in the stomach and ileum showed 12 and 23% enhancements, respectively. The increment in the stomach was not statistically significant. |
