Cholinesterases (eBook)

Front Cover 
1 
Cholinesterases: A Histochemical Contribution to the Solution of Some Functional Problems 4
Copyright Page 
5 
Table of Contents 
6 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
8 
INTRODUCTION 10
1. Scope and limitations of histochemical methods 10
2. Acetylcholine, choline acetylase and cholinesterases 10
3. Choice of a histochemical technique 12
Part I: HUMORAL CHOLINESTERASES 
16 
CHAPTER I. Plasmatic and Hepatic Cholinesterases 
17 
1. The probability of a hepatic origin of plasmatic cholinesterases 17
2. The dual localization of hepatic cholinesterases 19
3. Hepatic and plasmatic cholinesterases and assimilation of food 21
CHAPTER II. Erythrocytic and Thrombocytic Acetylcholinesterase, The Haemopoietic Organs and the Placenta 
26 
1. Acetylcholinesterase activity of blood cells 26
2. Erythroblastic and megakaryocytic acetylcholinesterase 27
3. Other sites of cholinesterases in haemopoietic organs 30
4. The placenta and maternal contribution to the acetylcholinesterase activity of fœtal blood cells 
32 
5. Cholinesterases and cellular permeability 39
ADDENDUM 41
Part II: TISSUE CHOLINESTERASES IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AND TYPES OF LOCALIZATION AT NERVE-ENDINGS 
42 
CHAPTER I. Morphogenetic Study of Acetyl 
45 
1. Early biochemical differentiation of neuroblasts and myoblasts 45
2. Evolution of acetylcholinesterase activity of nerve fibres during development 
52 
CHAPTER II. Phylogenetic Study of Acetylcholinesterase in Nerve Fibres 
56 
1. Invertebrates 56
2. Vertebrates 58
CHAPTER III. Acetylcholinesterase in Peripheral Nervous System 
60 
1. Afferent fibres and sensory nerve-endings 60
2. Motor fibres and myo-neural junctions 63
3. Preganglionic fibres and orthosympathetic ganglia 70
4. Preganglionic sympathetic innervation of suprarenal medulla 72
5. Parasympathetic ganglia and postganglionic fibres 75
6. The different sites of acetylcholinesterase at parasympathetic nerve-endings 
76 
ADDENDUM 82
CHAPTER IV. Acetylcholinesterase in Central Nervous System 
83 
1. Central cholinergic transmission. Synaptic localization of acetylcholinesterase 
83 
2. Central non-cholinergic transmission: convergence of cholinergic and non-cholinergic fibres on the same cell 
86 
3. Central non-cholinergic transmission: alternation of noncholinergic and cholinergic neurons 
89 
4. Types of synaptic acetylcholinesterase localization in central nervous system 
92 
5. Systematic description of acetylcholinesterase localization in central nervous system of mammals 
94 
6. Inferences from acetylcholinesterase localization in central nervous system 
110 
CHAPTER V. Non-specific Cholinesterase in Nervous System 
113 
1. Invertebrates 113
2. Vertebrates 113
Part III: SURVEY OF TISSULAR CHOLINESTERASES OUTSIDE THE NERVOUS SYSTEM 
118 
CHAPTER I. Skeletal Muscle 
119 
1. Myo-neural junction 119
2. Musculo-tendinous cholinesterasic apparatus 134
3. Electric organ 138
CHAPTER II. Circulatory System, The Heart 
140 
1. Blood Vessels 140
2. Heart 141
CHAPTER III. Digestive System 
144 
1. Bucco-pharyngeal cavity and salivary glands 144
2. Pancreas 146
3. Alimentary tract 148
CHAPTER IV. Respiratory System 
157 
CHAPTER V. Uro-genital System 
160 
1. Urinary System 160
2. Male reproductive system 161
3. Female reproductive system 163
CHAPTER VI. Endocrine Glands and Thymus 
168 
1. Hypophysis 168
2. Epiphysis 168
3. Suprarenal glands 168
4. Endocrine pancreas 168
5. Thyroid and parathyroids 168
6. Thymus 169
CHAPTER VII. Skin and Organs of Special Senses 
173 
1. Skin 173
2. Organ of smell 173
3. Organ of taste 174
4. Eye 175
5. Ear 175
6. Carotid and aortic bodies 176
CONCLUSION 177
REFERENCES 178
Abbreviations in Plates 196
AUTHOR INDEX 198
SUBJECT INDEX 202