Acetylcholine: a possible neurotransmitter in Setaria cervi.

The total and free acetylcholine (Ach) and cholinesterase (CHE) content of adult Setaria cervi were estimated. The Ach was estimated by bioassay on rectus abdominis muscle of frog and the CHE by measuring the drop in pH following incubation of worm homogenate with Ach chloride. The free and total Ach contents (4.0 +/- 0.57 and 6.0 +/- 0.48 microgram/g wet weight of worms respectively) were as high as found in mammalian brain cortex. The cholinesterase activity was found to be 5.57 +/- 0.6 units/g wet weight of worms. It is possible that there may exist a well developed system responsible for the synthesis, storage, release and destruction of Ach and that Ach may be acting as an excitatory neurohormone in S. cervi.