Changes of AChE activity in the nerves of pig ovaries in different periods of pregnancy.

The paper presents a description of morphologic features of AChE-positive nerves, and changes taking place in AChE activity in pig ovaries during different stages of pregnancy. 36 sows, pregnant for the first time, were used in the studies. The animals were divided into 5 groups: Group I embraced sows on 14th d of pregnancy (n = 7), group II: on 20th d (n = 6), group III: on 30th d (n = 7), group IV: on 60th d (n = 8), and group V on 90th d of pregnancy (n = 8). The animals were slaughtered and bled. Left-side ovaries were taken for histochemical studies, and right-side ones for biochemical analyses. AChE-positive nerves in the ovaries were discovered taking advantage of the method by KARNOVSKY and ROOTS. AChE activity was determined according to RUCKENBUSH and RUCKENBUSH after homogenization of whole ovaries. It was found that: Morphological picture of the AChE-positive nerves differed in particular stages of pregnancy, this being reflected--among others--in the presence of characteristic, "bead-like" nerve fibres in later period of pregnancy (on 30th, 60th, and 90th d); The highest activity of AChE was recorded on 20th and 30th d of pregnancy, the lowest on 13th d.