Alteration of gastroduodenal acetylcholine metabolism induced by 2-deoxy-D-glucose in rats.

The effect of 2-Deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) on acetylcholine (ACh) metabolism in the stomach and duodenum of rats was studied. 2-DG significantly increased [3H] choline uptake, [3H] ACh synthesis, and choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase activities in parallel with an increase in gastric acid secretion. The conversion rate of uptaken [3H] choline to [3H] ACh, the turnover rate of ACh, and the contents of ACh and choline were negligibly influenced by 2-DG. 2-Buten-4-olide, which inhibits vagus nerve activity via the central nervous system, prevented the 2-DG increased [3H] choline uptake and subsequent [3H] ACh synthesis as well as the increase in gastric acid secretion. These results suggest that neuronal activity of the vagus nerve is coupled with [3H] choline uptake and subsequent [3H] ACh synthesis, and that cholinergic neuronal activity depends on quantitative changes in ACh metabolism in the gastroduodenum.