Meshorer_2002_Science_295_508

To explore neuronal mechanisms underlying long-term consequences of stress we studied stress-induced changes in the neuritic translocation of acetylcholinesterase AChE splice variants Under normal conditions we found the synaptic AChE-S mRNA and protein in neurites Corticosterone anticholinesterases and forced swim each facilitated a rapid minutes yet long-lasting weeks shift from AChE-S to the normally rare AChE-R mRNA promoted AChE-R mRNA translocation into neurites and induced enzyme secretion Weeks after stress electrophysiological measurements in hippocampus slices displayed apparently normal evoked synaptic responses but extreme hypersensitivity to both anticholinesterases and atropine Our findings suggest that neuronal hypersensitivity under stress involves neuritic replacement of AChE-S with AChE-R