Regional and laminar variations in acetylcholinesterase activity within the frontal cortex of the dog

Two different histochemical methods were applied to analyse acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity within the frontal lobe cortex (FC) of the dog. Both staining methods revealed AChE reactivity in neuronal cell bodies and fibres. AChE-positive neuronal perikarya varied in size, shape, character and intensity of staining. Both pyramidal and non-pyramidal AChE-rich neurons were found. The pyramidal neurons predominated in layers III and V of the dog FC. The non-pyramidal cells were present in deep cortical layers and white matter. Labelled cells were distributed in a consistent pattern across regions of the dog frontal lobe. AChE reactivity in fibres showed, in general, a characteristic bilaminar appearance due to the more intense staining in cortical layers I and V. However, in contrast to the cellular labelling, differences in the laminar distribution of AChE-rich fibre bands distinguished three subregions of the FC: (1) rostral and middle prefrontal and anterior premotor areas, where AChE was distributed in a bilaminar pattern with two bands of similar, medium-intensive staining overlying layers I and V; (2) dorso-caudal primary and secondary motor areas distinguished by much lighter staining of the deep band of AChE activity in layer V; and (3) ventro-caudal subcallosal region in which the bilaminar pattern of extremely dark labelling in layers I and V was augmented by a third band of strong AChE activity in layer VI. These findings show that differences in the pattern of AChE activity parallel some of the cytoarchitectonic zones of the FC previously described in this laboratory (Rajkowska and Kosmal, 1988).