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Tissue Levels of Acetyl Choline and Acetyl Cholinesterase in Weanling Rats Subjected to Acute Choline Deficiency¹

Departments of Surgery, Pathology and Biochemistry, The Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, New York, New York and the Department of Neurology, The College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York

The concentrations of acetyl choline and acetyl cholinesterase were assayed in the brain, small intestine and kidneys of choline-deficient and supplemented weanling male Fischer rats. These measurements were made to explore our thesis that acute choline deficiency induces a deficiency in acetyl choline which makes the renal vasculature hyperresponsive to vasopressor amines, resulting in vasospasm, ischemia, vascular rupture, hemorrhage and renal tubular necrosis. We found that 5 days of choline deficiency resulted in a 30–35% decrease in the concentration of acetyl choline in the brain and small intestine and a 50–75% decrease in the kidney. The level of acetyl cholinesterase of the brain was unchanged; kidney acetyl cholinesterase was 18% lower in choline-deficient rats. These changes in tissue acetyl choline and acetyl cholinesterase levels occurred before there were changes in kidney weight and gross appearance or blood urea concentration. These experiments support our thesis that the nephropathy of acute choline deficiency results from vascular disturbances caused by a deficiency of acetyl choline.

² Department of Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, New York.

³ Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, New York.

⁴ Department of Neurology, The College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York.

⁵ Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, New York.

Manuscript received 13 July 1967.

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