Acetylcholinesterase in mammalian erythroid cells.

The biosynthesis of acetylcholinesterase in mammalian erythroid cells during differentiation and maturation was studied using a cytochemical method. Acetylcholinesterase was actively synthesized in basophilic erythroblasts I and II, and polychromatophilic erythroblasts, where it was present in the nuclear membrane, endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. In orthochromatophilic erythroblasts the enzyme was present only in the Golgi apparatus, thus suggesting the end of the biosynthesis of acetylcholinesterase at this stage of maturation. In mouse and human marrow, evidence was also found suggesting the secretion of acetylcholinesterase into the extracellular compartment. No acetylcholinesterase reaction product was found in cat erythroblasts.