Demonstration of a neurotrophic factor for the maintenance of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase in the preganglionically denervated superior cervical ganglion of the cat

Under sodium pentobarbital anesthesia, the superior cervical ganglia of cats were preganglionically denervated bilaterally. The following day cats were reanesthetized, the external carotid and lingual arteries were ligated bilaterally, and the right common carotid artery was infused for 24 hr with an extract prepared from cat brain, spinal cord, and sciatic nerves, with and without the incorporation of aprotinin, an inhibitor of proteases. They were sacrificed 48 hr after denervation, and the acetylcholinesterase (acetylcholine acetylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.7) and butyrylcholinesterase (acylcholine acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.8) contents of the superior cervical ganglia were compared with those of similarly denervated control ganglia. Both types of extract produced a significant reduction in the loss of both enzymes from the superior cervical ganglia, as did infusions of aprothinin alone. These findings demonstrate the presence of an endogenous neurotrophic factor for the maintenance of ganglionic acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. Its possible mechanisms of action, and those of aprotinin, are discussed.