Acetylcholinesterase Rapid Staining Kit

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is a tetrameric serine hydrolase that rapidly catalyzes the hydrolysis of acetylcholine to acetate and choline. The breakdown of acetylcholine is critical for the termination of impulse transmissions at cholinergic synapses within the nervous system. Progressive loss of cholinergic neurons in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients results in severe memory loss and impairment of cognitive function. AChE inhibitors are a strategic approach to symptomatic treatment for AD, since AChE inhibitors increase the levels of acetylcholine in the synapse, thereby enhancing cholinergic activity in the affected regions of the brain. AChE also plays an important role in agriculture since modifications in AChE can confer resistance to pesticides. AChE is a key component in many snake venoms, and AChE staining is routinely used for the initial diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease, a congenital disorder caused by the absence of ganglion cells in the distal colon.