Acetylcholinesterase activity in specific regions of rabbit brain: Effect of pentobarbitone anesthesia

Acetylcholinesterase activity was determined in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hypothalamus, midbrain and medulla oblongata of a) control mature male rabbits, and b) male rabbits injected i.p. with an anesthetic dose of sodium pentobarbitone (60 mg/kg b.w.). Enzyme activity was highest in the midbrain and lowest in the cerebral cortex in controls. Pentobarbitone anesthesia increased enzyme activity in the cerebral cortex. No significant change in acetylcholinesterase activity occurred in the other brain areas studied following pentobarbitone administration. These findings are compared with the results of previous studies in the rat.