[Cholinesterase of the chick optic lobe. Molecular forms and behavior after deafferentation]

The behaviour of AChE and ChE has been studied quantitatively in the chick optic lobe (tectum and nuclei) under normal conditions and after deafferentation. Eye extirpation was carried out at the 1st day after hatching. Both in the tectum and in the nuclei, a low decrease in specific activity was observed, in comparison with the control. Nevertheless, when the total activity is calculated, a significant decrease is evident, owing to marked underdevelopment of the deafferented lobe. In the normal chick lobe, 2 molecular forms of AChE (6.58 and 11S) have been observed. The distribution of these 2 forms is not altered by eye extirpation, until at least 120 days of age.