Use of 300-msec microwave irradiation for enzyme inactivation: a study of effects of sodium pentobarbital on acetylcholine concentration in mouse brain regions

Journal Article · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7139688

Modak, A T; Weintraub, S T; McCoy, T H; Stavinoha, W B

Microwave irradiation of 6 kw at 2450 MHz for 300 msec was sufficient to completely inactivate mouse brain cholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase. After this method of sacrifice, the acetylcholine contents of mouse brain regions, given in nanomoles per gram, were found to be: striatum, 81; medulla-pons, 44; diencephalon-midbrain, 34; hippocampus, 31; cerebral cortex, 26; and cerebellum, 17. Sodium pentobarbital caused a dose-dependent increase in whole brain acetylcholine. A maximal increase of 81 percent in whole brain was seen at 15 minutes with 80 mg/kg of sodium pentobarbital. The increase in acetylcholine after sodium pentobarbital treatment was not caused by anoxia from respiratory depression or by hypothermia. All brain regions except the cerebellum exhibited an increase in acetylcholine after pentobarbital treatment. Fifteen minutes after treatment, cerebellar acetylcholine was significantly decreased. However, at the time when half of the animals had regained the righting reflex, the unconscious mice showed an increase in cerebellar acetylcholine which was statistically significant as compared to control. The relative accumulation rate of acetylcholine calculated for cerebral cortex and hippocampus was higher than that for striatum although the absolute rate of accumulation of ACh was higher in the striatum. Thus, after sodium pentobarbital treatment, the cerebral cortex and hippocampus exhibit a greater cholinergic response than the striatum.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Texas, San Antonio
• OSTI ID: 7139688
• Journal Information: J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.; (United States) Vol. 197:2; ISSN JPETA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550500* -- Metabolism
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ACETYLCHOLINE
AMINES
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
ANIMALS
AZINES
BARBITURATES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHOLINESTERASE
DRUGS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENZYMES
ESTERASES
ESTERS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROLASES
HYPNOTICS AND SEDATIVES
INACTIVATION
MAMMALS
METABOLISM
MICE
MICROWAVE RADIATION
NEMBUTAL
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PARASYMPATHOMIMETICS
PYRIMIDINES
QUATERNARY COMPOUNDS
RADIATIONS
RODENTS
TRANSFERASES
VERTEBRATES