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Abstract
Specific antiserum against acetylcholine (ACh) was produced in the rabbit immunized
with a choline hemiglutarate-bovine serum albumin conjugate. The antiserum significantly
cross-reacted with choline carboxylates, such as butyrylcholine, succinylcholine,
and carbamylcholine. However, neither choline itself nor choline phosphates, such
as phosphatidylcholine and phosphorylcholine, showed any significant cross-reaction.
The antiserum was used to develop a radioimmunoassay for ACh. The assay can reliably
determine as little as 170 pg of ACh. Acetylcholine concentrations in two regions
of the rat brain were determined directly from an aqueous extract. After inhibition
of acetylcholinesterase with physostigmine, ACh increased more in the forebrain than
in the brainstem.