Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) catalyzes hydrolysis of acylcholinesters with a relative specificity for acetylcholine. The enzyme is bound to excitable cellular membranes (synaptic junction, endoplasmic reticulum, etc.) and is associated with nerve impulse conduction. AChE is used as an histochemical marker for cholinergic fibers relevant to several neuronal functions and dysfunctions such as memory and Alzheimer's disease. This is one of the most common histochemical methods to delineate brain nuclei and cortical layers.
