Alterations in acetylcholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase activities and neuropeptide levels in the ventral spinal cord of the Wobbler mouse during inherited motoneuron disease.

Enzymatic assays for acetylcholine esterase (AChE) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) were applied to dorsal and ventral cervical spinal cord regions taken from the Wobbler mouse, a model for inherited motoneuron disease. Early in the disease, ChAT (but not AChE) activity is significantly greater compared with the control littermate specimens. The high ChAT activity correlates with the high thyrotropin releasing hormone (also leucine-enkephalin) concentrations measured in the Wobbler ventral horn early in the disease. Late in the motoneuron disease, both AChE and ChAT activities are significantly lower than in the control littermate specimens. These data correlate with the high substance P, methionine and leucine enkephalin concentrations measured in the Wobbler ventral horn late in the motoneuron disease.