Pentagastrin induction of acetylcholinesterase activity in cerebral cortex of rats.

A single injection of pentagastrin (500 microgram kg-1) produced an immediate (within 15 min) and pronounced increment (about 50%) in the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the cerebral but not in the cerebellar region of the brain. Pretreatment of rats with either actinomycin-D or cycloheximide did not fully abolish the pentagastrin-mediated stimulation of cerebral AChE activity.