Effect of coprophagy prevention and antibiotics on tissue levels of acetylcholine in choline-deficient weanling rats.

The effect of coprophagy prevention and antibiotics on acetyl- choline levels of kidney, brain and small intestine in weanling rats fed choline- deficient diets was studied. It was found that 5 to 6 days of dietary choline deficiency resulted in decreased concentration of acetylcholine in kidney (64% ), brain (28% ) and small intestine (30% ). Coprophagy prevention or the inclu sion of antibiotics in the diet maintained the tissues' acetylcholine at normal or near-normal levels in the choline deficient rats. These results are similar to those which have been obtained by others in germfree rats. J. Nutr. 101: 25â€"28, 1971.