Modifications in the cortical regional distribution of choline acetyltransferase, somatostatin and somatostatin binding sites in the normal rat and following lesion of the nucleus basalis.

The regional distribution of choline acetyltransferase activity, somatostatin levels and 125I-CGP 23996 (a somatostatin agonist analog) specific binding sites in 10 separate zones of the cerebral cortex was analyzed. The study was performed in normal rats as well as 15 days after unilateral excitotoxic lesion of the nucleus basalis. A significant correlation was found in the controls between the regional distribution of choline acetyltransferase activity and somatostatin concentrations, both most highly concentrated in the piriform and entorhinal cortex. In contrast, the regional density of 125I-CGP 23996 binding sites correlated neither with choline acetyltransferase activity nor with somatostatin levels. Unilateral lesions of the basal forebrain decreased choline acetyltransferase activity in the frontal and parietal cortex, while 125I-CGP 23996 binding decreased in frontal and occipital regions. No decrease in somatostatin content was observed. The results suggest that, in rats, cortical somatostatin receptors could be associated with cholinergic afferents from the nucleus basalis in the frontal cortex only.