Abstract
ALTHOUGH the overall content of acetylcholine and choline acetylase within the mammalian cerebellum is relatively low1, acetylcholinesterase is associated with the cell bodies and axones of granule cells2. Since the synaptic endings of the parallel fibres (granule cell axones) on the dendrites of Purkinje cells are excitatory in nature, in contrast to the inhibitory endings of the basket cells which are confined to the bodies of Purkinje cells3, it would not be unreasonable to consider that acetylcholine could be an excitant of Purkinje cells. Topically applied acetylcholine, in the presence of physostigmine, does indeed excite elements in the cerebellar cortex4; but hitherto the actual cells involved have not been identified.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hebb, C. O., in Handbuch der Experimentellen Pharmakologie, 15, Cholinesterases and Anticholinesterase Agents, edit. by Koelle, G.B. (Springer, 1963).
Koelle, G. B., J. Comp. Neurol., 100, 211 (1954). Gerebtzoff, M. A., Cholinesterases (Pergamon Press, 1959).
Andersen, P., Eccles, J. C., and Voorhoeve, P. E., Nature, 199, 655 (1963).
Crepax, P., Nigro, A., and Pameggiani, L., Abs. Twentieth Intern. Physiol. Congr., 200 (1956).
Curtis, D. R., and Eccles, R. M., J. Physiol., 141, 435 (1958).
Granit, R., and Phillips, C. G., J. Physiol., 133, 520 (1956).
Curtis, D. R., and Andersen, P., Nature, 195, 1105 (1962). Salmoiraghi, G. C., and Steiner, F. A., J. Neurophysiol., 26, 581 (1963). Krnjevic, K., and Phillis, J. W., J. Physiol., 166, 296 (1963).
Curtis, D. R., and Watkins, J. C., J. Physiol., 166, 1 (1963).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
CRAWFORD, J., CURTIS, D., VOORHOEVE, P. et al. Excitation of Cerebellar Neurones by Acetylcholine. Nature 200, 579–580 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1038/200579b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/200579b0
This article is cited by
-
Acetylcholinesterase activity in certain glomeruli and Golgi cells of the granular layer of the rat cerebellar cortex
Zeitschrift f�r Anatomie und Entwicklungsgeschichte (1972)
-
Topical application of drugs to subcortical brain structures and selected aspects of electrical stimulation
Ergebnisse der Physiologie Biologischen Chemie und Experimentellen Pharmakologie (1967)
-
Acetylcholine Sensitivity of Cerebellar Neurones
Nature (1965)
-
Discharge Patterns of Elements in Cat Cerebellar Cortex, and their Responses to Iontophoretically Applied Drugs
Nature (1964)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
