The demonstration of acetylcholinesterase in plastic sections. Its application as a marker of early neuronal development.

In this paper a histotechnical procedure with respect to the demonstration of acetylcholinesterase in Technovit 7100 (a recently developed GMA) sections is described. From fixation up to embedding several procedural steps were varied and tested, resulting in a suitable procedure. The embedded tissue or sections can be stored for months at 7 degrees C with only a slight reduction of the enzymic activity. The enzyme also appears relatively temperature resistant and independent of section thickness (2-10 microns). The enzymic activity remains constant during incubation. The technique has been applied to our subject of study in order to qualify and quantify several aspects of the development of neuroblasts.