Effect of inhibition of glycolysis and compounds related to glycolysis on acetylcholine synthesis.

During prolonged activity of cholinergic systems an acetylcholinelike substance is synthesized locally (1, 2) since more acetylcholine can be released during stimulation than is present in the non-stimulated organ. The energy necessary to perform various physicochemical processes is usually supplied through oxidative processes and glycolysis. It has already been found that the addition of glucose (3-6) and some of the C* dicarboxylic acids (7) in relatively low concentrations increases the synthesis of acetylcholine in vitro. The purpose of the following investigation was to determine (I) the amount of acetylcholine synthesized by minced fresh brain after severe inhibition of its glycolysis and respirat,ion, and (2) the effect of added amounts of various intermediary products of glycolysis on the synthesis of acetylcholine.