Summary
The multiple forms of acetylcholinesterase (AChE, E.C. 3.1.1.7) have been investigated with regard to their histochemical demostrability. Their pattern is influenced by buffer treatment, fixation, and by incubation conditions causing aggregation and disaggregation as well as loss or inactivation of individual forms. The standard histochemical method for AChE preferentially demonstrates the high molecular forms. Most of the oligomer forms are washed out or inactivated. A selective demonstration of the highly aggregated forms is possible either by inhibition of the oligomers with diisopropylfluoridate (DFP) or by specifically dissolving them out. No reason could be found for the selective demonstration of the low molecular weight forms.
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The research reported in this paper was supported by the “Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Technik der DDR”
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Hüther, G., Luppa, H. The multiple forms of brain acetycholinesterase. Histochemistry 63, 115–121 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00508016
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00508016