Choline acetyltransferase activity during postnatal development of the rat heart

Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), the enzyme which catalyze the synthesis of acetylcholine is present in rat heart tissue on the first day of life. ChAT activity increases with age and reaches to a peak of adult level at the age of 40 days. Chat activity was highest in the right atrium then in right ventricle followed by left ventricle and left atrium. These preliminary results suggest that balanced control of the heart by autonomic nervous system is not complete at birth and is at certain risk.