Effects of thiamin deficiency on acetylcholine levels and utilization in vivo in rat brain

Cerebral regional acetylcholine (ACh) levels and utilization were studied in vivo in thiamin deficient (TD), pair-fed asymptomatic (PFC) and ad libitum fed control (ALC) rats. ACh levels in the cortex, corpus striatum, midbrain, diencephalon and brainstem of TD rats were comparable to those observed in the control groups. However, ACh utilization was slightly to moderately (10-41%) decreased in cortex, midbrain, diencephalon and brainstem. The decrease was significantly different in the midbrain of TD rats as compared to PFC and ALC rats.