We've put together several well-characterized cholinergic neuron markers to help you identify your neuronal population.

Cholinergic neuron markers are essential for studying the cholinergic system, a key network in the brain involved in various functions and diseases.

What are cholinergic neurons?

Cholinergic neurons, which mainly use the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, are characterized by their cholinergic innervation of brain regions such as the basal forebrain. Loss of cholinergic neurons and disruption of cholinergic innervation are closely associated with cognitive decline, particularly in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease.

Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)

An enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of acetylcholine¹.  Cholinergic neurons release acetylcholine to communicate with target cells, making them key players in the nervous system.

Figure 1. Mouse spinal cord sections stained with anti-choline acetyltransferase (ab178850).

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Vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT)

A transporter that uses a proton gradient established by the vacuolar ATPase to transport acetylcholine into secretory vesicles². The vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) loads acetylcholine into vesicles for release at cholinergic synapses.

Figure 2. Multiplex immunohistochemistry - Anti-VAChT antibody [EPR29154-71] (ab317452).

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Acetylcholinesterase

An enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of acetylcholine into acetate and choline³. Cholinergic interneurons in the spinal cord modulate motor control and are essential for coordinating locomotor behavior.

Figure 3. Mouse striatum stained with anti-acetylcholinesterase (ab2803).

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References

1. Ray, B., , Simon, J. R., , Lahiri, D. K. Determination of high-affinity choline uptake (HACU) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity in the same population of cultured cells  Brain Res. ,160-8 (2009)
2. Sarter, M.,, Parikh, V. Choline transporters, cholinergic transmission and cognition. Nature   6 ,48-56 (2005)
3. Sastry, B. V,, Jaiswal, N.,, et al. 2-(alpha-Naphthoyl)ethyltrimethylammonium iodide and its beta-isomer: new selective, stable and fluorescent inhibitors of choline acetyltransferase.  J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.  245 ,72-80 (1988)