Chat, or choline acetyltransferase, is a synthesizing enzyme for acetylcholine (ACh). ACh is a neurotransmitter involved in various physiological processes in both the central and peripheral nervous systems [1]. ChAT is produced in the neuron body, transported to the nerve terminal, and catalyzes the transfer of an acetyl group to choline to yield ACh. Genetic models, such as the ChAT-eGFP transgenic mouse, have provided advantages for studying cholinergic neurons [1].

In the ChAT-eGFP transgenic mouse study, while there was a complete overlap between the transgenic expression of eGFP and immunohistochemical staining in the cholinergic basal forebrain, differences were found in other areas like the cortex, hippocampus, and brainstem. Small neurons in the cortex and hippocampus showed discrepancies in eGFP expression and antibody labeling, and no eGFP expression was detected in certain cholinergic cells of the brainstem [1].

In conclusion, Chat is essential for the synthesis of acetylcholine, playing a crucial role in neural communication. The use of transgenic mouse models like the ChAT-eGFP has revealed both the widespread and specific distribution patterns of cholinergic neurons related to Chat, contributing to our understanding of neural function and potentially related neurological conditions.

References:

1. Gamage, Rashmi, Zaborszky, Laszlo, Münch, Gerald, Gyengesi, Erika. 2023. Evaluation of eGFP expression in the ChAT-eGFP transgenic mouse brain. In BMC neuroscience, 24, 4. doi:10.1186/s12868-023-00773-9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36650430/