Title: Cholinesterase activity of nodal and internodal regions of myelinated nerve fibers of frog Brzin M, Dettbarn WD Ref: Journal of Cell Biology, 32:577, 1967 : PubMed
The distribution of cholinesterase (Ch-esterase) in isolated myelinated fibers of the frog has been investigated. Quantitative microgasometric measurements have confirmed the previous histochemical observations. Both approaches indicate that in frog nerve fibers acetylcholinesterase (ACh-esterase) is the only or the predominant enzyme when selective inhibitors and different substrates are used: acetylcholine (ACh), butyrylcholine, and acetyl-B-methylcholine (Mecholyl). By means of the microgasometric technique, a significant difference in ACh-esterase activity between axons isolated from ventral (37.2 +/- 1.7 micromole x 10(-5) ACh/mm(2)/hr) and dorsal roots (2.0 +/- 0.9 micromole x 10(-5) ACh/mm(2)/hr) was found. In the region of the node of Ranvier the enzyme activity (50.4 +/- 4.4 micromole x 10(-5) ACh/mm(2)/hr) appears to be considerably higher than in the internodal area (36.6 +/- 2.1 micromole x 10(-5) ACh/mm(2)/hr). The findings are discussed in relation to the theory of saltatory conduction and the ACh system.
        
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Brzin M, Dettbarn WD (1967) Cholinesterase activity of nodal and internodal regions of myelinated nerve fibers of frog Journal of Cell Biology32: 577-83
Brzin M, Dettbarn WD (1967) Journal of Cell Biology32: 577-83