Brain acetylcholine: control by dietary choline

Science. 1976 Feb 13;191(4227):561-2. doi: 10.1126/science.1251187.

Abstract

Acetylcholine concentrations in whole rat brain or in various brain regions and free choline concentrations in blood serum and brain vary with dietary choline consumption. The increases in brain acetylcholine after treatment with physositigmine (an inhibitor of actylcholinesterase) or after consumption of a diet high in choline are additive, suggesting that choline acts by increasing acetylcholine synthesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholine / biosynthesis
  • Acetylcholine / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Brain Stem / metabolism
  • Caudate Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cerebellum / metabolism
  • Choline / blood
  • Choline / metabolism*
  • Choline / pharmacology
  • Diet
  • Male
  • Physostigmine / pharmacology
  • Rats

Substances

  • Physostigmine
  • Choline
  • Acetylcholine