Changes of total acetylcholine content and the activity of related enzymes in SART (repeated cold)-stressed rat brain and duodenum.

In SART-stressed rats regarded as pathologically diseased model animals with vagotonic-type autonomic imbalance, a decrease of total acetylcholine (T-ACh) content and enhancements of choline acetyltransferase (CAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities were recognized in the basal ganglia and hypothalamus. In contrast, in the duodenum, an increase in T-ACh content and a decrease in AChE activity were found, while CAT activity showed no change. These findings suggest that in both brain areas of basal ganglia and hypothalamus in SART-stressed rats, ACh neurons may be activated.