Interrelationships between ganglionic acetylcholinesterase and nonspecific cholinesterase of the cat and rat.

When homogenates of cat or rat superior cervical ganglia in Krebs-Ringer solution were incubated at 37 degrees C, the ensuing decrease in acetylcholinesterase (acetylcholine acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.7) activity was increased significantly by prior administration in vivo of tetramonoisopropylpyrophosphotetramide at doses that produced selective alkylphosphorylation of butyrylcholinesterase or propionylcholinesterase. These findings are consistent with the proposal that the latter enzymes are posttranscriptional precursors of acetylcholinesterase. Results of similar studies with homogenates of ganglia in water or in M NaCl/1% Triton X-100 were inconclusive, as were those of heat-inactivation studies and immunoprecipitation of the enzymes.