Effect of Denervation on a Cholinergic‐Specific Ganglioside Antigen (Chol‐1) Present in Torpedo Electromotor Presynaptic Plasma Membranes

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Abstract
The presence of Chol-l, an antigen identified in the plasma membrane of cholinergic electromotor nerve terminals of T. marmorata, was investigated in electric organs after 3, 6, and 9 wk denervation. Denervation was monitored by the cessation of stimulus-evoked discharge potentials, by the reduction in nerve terminals seen morphologically, and by the decrease in ACh [acetylcholine] and ChAT [choline acetyltransferase] contents. The content of ganglioside-bound sialic acid did not show any appreciable change with time. Some modification of ganglioside pattern on TLC was observed after 9 wk denervation. The presence of Chol-1 after denervation was assayed by its activity in inhibiting the selective complement-induced lysis of the cholinergic subpopulation of guinea pig cortical synaptosome which is mediated by the anti-Chol-1 antiserum. Denervation did not affect Chol-1 immunoreactivity although it did alter the distribution of the immunoreactivity among gangliosides. The possible significance of the results is discussed.