HISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIFIC AND NON SPECIFIC CHOLINESTERASES AND SIMPLE ESTERASE IN THE CEREBELLUM OF THE RAT

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Abstract
Unlike in other parts of the nervous system, specific cholinesterase is not present at the synapses. It appears to be restricted only to the granule cells out of the various constituents of the different cerebellar areas. Purkinje cells, afferent and efferent fibers and other neurones are negative for specific cholin-ersterase. On the other hand, simple esterase is localized distinctly at the various synapses of nearly all the fibers of the different layers, but is absent from granule cells. Besides being positive for glomeruli of the granular layer it presents evidence of cyclic activity in Purkinje cells. The localization qf non-specific cholinesterase is limited to blood vessels only. The results are discussed against the background of the biochemical studies available in the literature and an attempt has been made to correlate the distribution of the various enzymes with their possible roles in the functioning of the cerebellum.