ABSTRACT
One of the greatest challenges for biomedical researchers is to gain greater insight into the function of the brain. To find the best and the most relevant experimental model is sometimes very difficult. This is especially true when the cholinergic system in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) is concerned. Cholinergic neurons are found dispersed in the brain, although some areas such as the caudate nucleus, hippocampus, and other forebrain regions are relatively rich in cholinergic innervation. This chapter deals mainly with those findings from different experimental model systems that is compartmentalization and release of acetylcholine (Ach) from the cholinergic nerve terminals in the CNS. It reviews various aspects of the cholinergic nerve teminal and describes the detailed morphological, biochemical, and pharmacological information. The use of vesamicol, a drug that inhibits ACh transport into the cholinergic vesicles, opened a new possibility of studying the subcellular origin of ACh released by stimulation.
