Sine_1989_Mol.Cell.Biochem_85_49

The presence of a butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE, EC 3.1.1.8) in the musocal cells of the chicken intestine was demonstrated by histochemical and biochemical methods. The study of its distribution, along the intestine from duodenum to rectum, showed that the jejuno-ileum possesses the highest activity. Sucrose gradient centrifugation revealed, in all intestinal areas, two globular forms with sedimentation coefficients of 4.3 S (G1 form) and 10.8 S (G4 form). The presence of Triton X-100 in the preparations did not modify the sedimentation profiles of these two forms which can be considered as soluble BCHE. The ratio of G1/G4-forms progressively decreases along the intestine from duodenum to rectum indicating a predominance of the G4 form in the areas where the activity is low. Our results are discussed in relation to other studies of globular forms of chicken BCHE.