Histochemical assessment upon the striatal distribution of acetylcholinesterase in the cat.

The distribution of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was explored in the striatum of the cat following a slightly modified Geneser-Jensen and Blackstad method. The well-known histochemical organization of the cat's striatum, characterized by the presence of small areas with poor concentration of AChE, called "striosomal bodies" or "striosomes", which were embedded in a prominent tissular matrix presenting more intense staining for AChE, was clearly recognized. An additional finding, however, was that regional variations in the deposit of AChE both in the striosomal bodies and in the matrix-compartment, occurred within different rostrocaudal and dorsoventral striatal territories of the cat's caudate nucleus. These results point to consider these two striatal compartments as part of a more complex histochemical design for the striatum of carnivores.