The morphological characteristics of cholinergic neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) of the @entity3474 (Papio papio) were studied by @entity1877 acetyltransferase ( @entity4268 ) immunohistochemistry and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) pharmacohistochemistry. The distributions of central cholinergic neurons as visualized by these two histochemical techniques were similar in most, but not all regions of the brain and spinal cord. Based upon these observations, central cholinergic neurons that are immunoreactive to @entity4268 and intensely stained for AChE by the pharmacohistochemical procedure can be divided into four major groups: (1) those in the caudate nucleus, putamen, nucleus accumbens and anterior perforated substance. These @entity4268 -containing and AChE-intense neurons are large and multipolar, and are scattered throughout these structures. (2) The rostral cholinergic column, which consists of a continuous mass of cholinergic perikarya situated in the medial septal nucleus, nucleus of the diagonal band, and nucleus basalis (Meynert). The @entity4268 -immunoreactive and AChE-intense cell bodies of the nucleus basalis are a prominent feature in the basal forebrain of the @entity3474 . The labeled neurons are large, multipolar, and hyperchromic and show a tendency to aggregate in cell clusters. These cells are distributed within the full extent of the substantia innominata, often being associated with subcortical fiber networks such as the medullary laminae of the globus pallidus. (3) The caudal cholinergic column, which consists of a continuous group of cholinergic neurons in the caudal midbrain and pontine tegmentum. The rostral component of this group of cells is the nucleus tegmenti pedunculopontinus (subnucleus compacta) and it extends caudally to include the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus. Compared to that in other species the nucleus tegmenti pedunculopontinus in the @entity3474 appears to occupy a relatively greater volume and is composed of a greater number of cholinergic neurons. The cells of the caudal column are large and hyperchromic. (4) Nuclei of origin of somatic and visceral efferents of the cranial nerves (III, IV, V, VI, VII, IX, X, XI, XII) and spinal nerves. In addition to these major cholinergic cell groups, a small population of @entity4268 -positive and AChE-intense cell bodies can be observed at the floor of the fourth ventricle and in lamina VII and X of the cervical cord. The present findings indicate that although some differences exist, the overall distribution and morphological features of cholinergic cell bodies identified in the @entity3474 brain and spinal cord are similar to those demonstrated previously in investigations of the @entity2608 and nonprimates.

Distribution of central cholinergic neurons in the XXXX (Papio papio). I. General morphology.

@entity2608 :: ('9544', 'Species') :: ['rhesus monkey'] @entity4268 :: ('8063', 'Species') :: ['ChAT'] @entity3474 :: ('9555', 'Species') :: ['baboon'] @entity1877 :: ('MESH:D002794', 'Chemical') :: ['choline']
@entity3474 :: (9555,Species) :: ['baboon']
