[Acetylcholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase in the nervous system of rabbits resistant to emotional stress].

To study the role of acetylcholine metabolism system in the mechanisms responsible for animals' resistance to emotional stress, the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase and cholinacetyltransferase (CAT) was evaluated in brain structures and autonomous vegetative nervous system of rabbits after experimental emotional stress. In the course of experiments, arterial pressure and heart rate were recorded. The rabbits whose cardiovascular functions appeared to be resistant showed an increase in the activity of AChE and CAT in the perifocal area of the hypothalamus. It is suggested that the involvement of the perifocal area of the hypothalamus in the formation of the mechanisms responsible for the resistance is linked with the effects on water-salt metabolism.