Acute starvation decreases acetylcholinesterase activity in different regions of rat brain

The activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was assayed spectrophotometrically in four brain regions of rats that had been deprived of food for 96 h. A significant decrease in the total AChE activity (by 4-45%) as well as in its specific activity (by 14-28%) was observed in the supernatant and total particulate fractions from cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum, brainstem and diencephalon + basal ganglia. Similarly, blood glucose, body weight and protein content of subcellular fractions from most brain regions showed decreases after starvation.