In vivo release of non-neuronal acetylcholine from the human skin as measured by dermal microdialysis: effect of botulinum toxin

1.--Acetylcholine is synthesized in the majority of non-neuronal cells, for example in human skin. In the present experiments, the in vivo release of acetylcholine was measured by dermal microdialysis. 2.--Two microdialysis membranes were inserted intradermally at the medial shank of volunteers. Physiological saline containing 1 muM neostigmine was perfused at a constant rate of 4 microl min(-1) and the effluent was collected in six subsequent 20 min periods. Acetylcholine was measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with bioreactors and electrochemical detection. 3.--Analysis of the effluent by HPLC showed an acetylcholine peak that disappeared, when the analytical c…