A comparative histochemical study of alkaline phosphatase and acetylcholinesterase in the hind-brain of Channa punctatus and Heteropneustes fossils.

The presentation deals with the distribution of alkaline phosphatase (GP-AII) and acetylcholinesterase (CHO-A) in the hind brain of Channa punctatus, and Heteropneustes fossils and the following results have been obtained: CHO-A is localized only in the neurons. The motor neurons show a stronger staining than the sensory neurons. In Heteropneustes the sensory nuclei of the VIIth and Xth nerve are better developed and show stronger activity of CHO-A than Channa. In Channa, motor nuclei are better developed and show stronger activity of CHO-A than in Heteropneustes. Irrespective of their sensory or motor nature, all the cranial nerve nuclei exhibit a strong GP-AII activity. Purkinje cells of Heteropneustes show stronger activity of GP-AII than Channa. The functional significance of the enzyme as compared with other vertebrates is discussed.