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The purpose of this study was to compare the in vitro reactivation of the various molecular forms of soman-inhibited acetylcholinesterase by oximes such as HI-6, toxogonin and PAM, in striated muscle tissue from three species-rat, monkey and human. To simulate the various in vivo conditions the oxime was present either 5 min before and after (Pre-Post) or 5 min after (Post) exposure to the nerve agent soman. In the Pre-Post mode the oxime effects would result from a combination of not only shielding of acetylcholinesterase from soman inhibition but also from immediate reactivation of soman-inhibited acetylcholinesterase. In the Post experimental group the increase in soman-inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity was due to reactivation. HI-6 (Pre-Post) increased significantly the activity of soman-inhibited acetylcholinesterase in the rat, human and monkey muscle. HI-6 (Post) was a highly effective reactivator of soman-inhibited acetylcholinesterase in the rat muscle and moderately so in the human and monkey muscle. Toxogonin (Pre-Post) and toxogonin (Post) were effective in increasing soman-inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity in rat muscle but were relatively ineffective in the human and monkey muscle. PAM (Pre-Post) and PAM (Post) were ineffective in increasing soman-inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity in muscle from all species examined. Effectiveness of oxime-induced reactivation of soman-inhibited acetylcholinesterase could be estimated from the total acetylcholinesterase activity which appears to reflect the results found with the individual molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase. In addition, SAD-128, a non-oxime bispyridinium compound, appeared to enhance significantly the HI-6 induced reactivation of soman-inhibited acetylcholinesterase in human but not rat striated muscle.

Chromodacryorrhea is the secretion of so-called "bloody tears" from the harderian gland which nearly circumscribes the eye within the bony orbit. Direct-acting cholinergic agonists such as oxotremorine, carbachol, and pilocarpine caused chromodacryorrhea but nicotine did not. Atropine blocked chromodacryorrhea induced by systemic administration of direct-acting cholinergic agonists. Thus, chromodacryorrhea appears to be a muscarinic receptor-related event. Soman (pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate), a potent irreversible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase which increases the synaptic concentration of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, did not induce chromodacryorrhea in rats. Similarly, physostigmine, a tertiary, carbamate acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, did not induce chromodacryorrhea. In vivo soman-induced inhibition of harderian gland acetylcholinesterase was independent of the soman dose and the inhibition was significantly less than brain acetylcholinesterase. In vitro soman-induced inhibition of harderian gland acetylcholinesterase was not significantly different from that of diaphragm acetylcholinesterase. The lack of inhibition of acetylcholinesterase in the harderian gland does not appear to be due to a difference in sensitivity to inhibition by soman. The distribution of the various molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase between the diaphragm and harderian gland was different. There was a great deal more of the 4S form of acetylcholinesterase in the harderian gland than in the diaphragm. The lack of the following, inhibition of harderian gland acetylcholinesterase and elevation of the synaptic concentration of acetylcholine, could explain the absence of chromodacryorrhea following soman poisoning. The discrepancy between the significant soman-induced inhibition of brain acetylcholinesterase and the lack of inhibition of harderian gland acetylcholinesterase allows one to speculate that there may be a very efficient scavenger of soman present in the rat harderian gland.

Tacrine (THA) was evaluated in vitro and in vivo as a pretreatment for nerve agent intoxication. In vitro experiments showed that the primary effect of THA was direct inhibition of purified fetal bovine serum acetylcholinesterase (AChE) with a slight effect on slowing the aging rate of nerve agent-inhibited AChE. THA produced significant behavioral effects at doses above 1.7 mg/kg, i.m., in the mouse and 3.4 mg/kg, i.m., in the guinea pig. At the no observable effect level (NOEL) for mice (1.7 mg/kg), THA was effective (P < or = 0.05) in reducing tabun- and soman-, but not sarin-induced lethality in mice. Experiments in the guinea pig showed that at the NOEL (3.4 mg/kg, i.m.) THA was not effective in decreasing lethality due to soman exposure. Since there was significant overlap between pharmacologically effective doses of THA and those which produce behavioral toxicity, THA was not considered a suitable pretreatment for nerve agent intoxication.

Muscarinic receptor number, receptor-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis and m1 mRNA expression were examined in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of rats treated during postnatal development or in adult age with the organophosphate diisopropylfluorophosphate. Developing rats were treated from postnatal days 4-9 or from postnatal days 4-20 and killed on days 10 and 21, respectively, 24 h after the last administration of diisopropylfluorophosphate. Adult animals were treated for 14 days. Acetylcholinesterase activity and muscarinic receptor number were significantly reduced in all groups of treatment. Muscarinic receptor-stimulated phosphoinositide turnover, however, was significantly reduced in postnatal days 4-20 and adult treated rats but not in the postnatal days 4-9 group. No differences were observed in ED50 values. Conversely, m1 mRNA expression was significantly reduced both in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of postnatal days 4-9 treated rats, but not of postnatal days 4-20 and adult treated rats. These results indicate that chronic inhibition of acetylcholinesterase in developing rats results in significant alterations in muscarinic neurotransmission. These alterations may delay the maturation of the cholinergic system and, therefore, may account for some of the long-lasting neurotoxic effects observed after developmental exposure to organophosphate pesticides.

Organophosphate-induced hypothermia in rodents appears to be due to stimulation of muscarinic receptors in the anterior hypothalamus. The nerve agent soman (pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate) produced a transient hypothermia in mice. Concomitant with the recovery from soman-induced hypothermia, which was complete within 6 hr, there was a parallel recovery of the hypothalamic acetylcholinesterase activity. Pretreatment of mice with the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, did not affect the recovery from soman-induced hypothermia nor the recovery of hypothalamic acetylcholinesterase activity. The results suggest that the recovery from soman-induced hypothermia may be due to the recovery of acetylcholinesterase, perhaps from the assembly of previously synthesized precursors.

Aging of organophosphate-conjugated acetylcholinesterase results from the loss of an alkoxy group with concomitant stabilization of the conjugate to spontaneous or nucleophile-induced deacylation. We have examined the kinetics of aging in a pinacolylmethylphosphonofluoridate (soman)-inhibited mutant enzyme in which the glutamate (E199) located at the amino-terminal to the active-site serine (S200) was converted to glutamine (Q). For wild type enzyme, the soman-acetylcholinesterase conjugate aged immediately, giving rise to a form of enzyme resistant to reactivation by oximes. In contrast, the E199Q mutant enzyme was largely resistant to aging and could be reactivated by oximes. Since the pH dependence for aging was not altered appreciably, the primary influence of the loss of charge appears to be on the intrinsic rate of aging. The negative charge on E199 likely imparts an inductive effect on the conjugated organophosphate to facilitate removal of the alkoxy group.

Acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterases (AChE, BuChE) from various species differ in their substrate specificities and sensitivities to a wide range of inhibitors, yet display conserved sequence, structure and catalytic properties. To determine features that confer these selective properties, residues 58 through 133 of recombinant human BuChE were replaced with the corresponding sequence from human AChE. The replaced region (> 60% identity) spans the Asp70 residue, important for ligand interactions, and the choline binding site, and introduces differences of charge and hydrophobicity in the outer rim and on the surface of the active site gorge. Expressed in microinjected Xenopus laevis oocytes, the resultant chimera retained the catalytic activity, substrate specificity and the Km value toward butyrylthiocholine characteristic of BuChE. Further, it did not acquire substrate inhibition, which is unique to AChE, although it lost the property of substrate activation, characteristic of BuChE. Moreover, the chimera resembled BuChE in its sensitivity to succinylcholine and physostigmine, but acquired the AChE-like sensitivity to echothiophate and iso-OMPA, and displayed an intermediate pattern of inhibition, more similar to that of AChE than of BuChE, toward bambuterol, dibucaine and BW284C51. These findings demonstrate that the exchanged residues are involved in inhibitor recognition, but not in substrate distinction and in direct catalysis. Furthermore, substrate interaction with the exchanged domain may mediate structural changes leading to substrate activation in BuChE and inhibition in AChE. The two AChE-specific aromatic tyrosine residues positioned near Asp70 within this region are hence implicated in the peripheral anionic site of cholinesterases, which is involved in the recognition of various ligands.

A chronic diet of ethanol has detrimental effects on the cholinergic system in adult humans and rats. This study examined the effects of chronic exposure to dietary ethanol on the anatomical organization of true acetylcholinesterase (AChE) active elements in rat cerebral cortex. We focused on the somatosensory cortex because of its highly organized chemical and cellular structure. Following 42 days of exposure to an ethanol diet (6.7% v/v), there were marked changes in the cortical plexus of AChE-positive fibers. The AChE-positive plexus in ethanol-treated rats was reduced in all cortical layers, in comparison to age-matched pair-fed control and chow-fed rats. The most marked reduction was evident in layers II/III, IV, and VIa. Moreover, the density of AChE-positive cell bodies was significantly reduced in the cortices of ethanol-fed rats, particularly in the deep laminae. These alterations in the chemoarchitecture of somatosensory cortex occurred in the absence of changes in the cytoarchitectonic organization of neocortex. There was no detectable ethanol-induced change in the density of Cresyl violet-stained neurons either in the horizontal limb of the diagonal band of Broca or in the nucleus basalis. The density of AChE-positive neurons in the nucleus basalis, however, was significantly lower in ethanol-fed rats than in controls. Thus, it appears that a mere 6 weeks of ethanol exposure is sufficient to alter the cholinergic innervation of the cerebral cortex. These cortical alterations occur despite the lack of an ethanol-induced death of neurons in the basal forebrain. Such changes may contribute to the memory loss associated with alcohol dementia.

Some compounds that inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity compete directly with quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) binding, a muscarinic antagonist which binds to all subtypes equally, and with cis-methyldioxolane (CD), an agonist that binds with high affinity to the M2 subtype of muscarinic receptors. The relationship between inhibition of AChE activity and the capability to affect muscarinic receptors directly has not been systematically explored. The interaction of eight organophosphates with muscarinic receptors was compared to their ability to inhibit AChE activity in vitro in tissue homogenates from rat hippocampus and frontal cortex, two cholinergically enriched areas of the brain. Of the compounds tested only echothiophate competed for [3H]QNB binding and only at concentrations greater than 100 microM. The anticholinesterase compounds were also tested for their ability to compete with a muscarinic receptor agonist, [3H]CD, which binds with high affinity (approximate KD = 3.5 nM) to 10 and 3% of the muscarinic receptors in the frontal cortex and hippocampus, respectively. The anticholinesterase compounds inhibited high-affinity [3H]CD binding up to 80% and the effects were similar in both tissues. Echothiophate and DFP were potent inhibitors of [3H]CD binding, as were the active "oxon" forms of parathion, malathion, and disulfoton. The parent "thio" forms of these insecticides, however, were much less effective in competing for [3H]CD binding. A similar pattern of potency was observed for the inhibition of brain AChE activity. A strong correlation was found between the ability of a compound to inhibit AChE activity and the ability to compete with [3H]CD binding. These data suggest that the biological effects of cholinesterase-inhibiting compounds may be due to more than their ability to inhibit AChE.

14C-methoxy-malathion with either pure or 50% E.C. formulated malathion were applied orally or dermally at one tenth of their LD50 to two batches of male albino rats. More than 90% of 14C was released with urine after 24 hours. The rest of 14C was detected in the feces, blood, intestines, liver and kidney in a descending order. No significant 14C was detected in other organs. Comparing the oral pure and formulated malathion treatments, there was no significant variation in the rate of disposition or excretion of 14C-malathion. However, the dermal treatment revealed that the 14C-formulated malathion was released faster than the pure one in urine in the first 24 hours; while the 14C-pure malathion showed relatively higher levels in the feces and blood in the first 24 hours. In a third batch of male albino rats, the effect of the same level of dermal treatment by either pure or 50% E.C. formulated malathion on serum acetylcholine-esterase (A. Ch. E.) activity and serum protein profile was studied. The serum A. Ch. E. activity was found to be inhibited to 40% activity after 6 to 24 hours for both treatments. However, after 96 hours the serum of the pure malathion treated rats showed full recovery of A.Ch.E. activity, while the formulated malathion treated showed only 60% activity. The SDS-PAGE analysis showed a differentiation in the serum protein bands of the 48 hours exposed rats to formulated malathion which was confirmed by the scanned gel profile. The FPLC integrated chromatograms proved an initiation of a new protein band accompanied with rearrangement of the albumin and pre-albumin bands. Thus it can be concluded that, the impact on the blood serum protein profile and A. Ch. E. activity can be used as reliable criteria to detect acute toxicity of malathion and other choline-esterase inhibitors in exposed field workers. Further research is needed to elucidate the specificity and sensitivity of such criteria as biomarkers for human exposure.

Tree planters in British Columbia have reported symptoms that are congruent with musculoskeletal stress and organophosphate or carbamate pesticide intoxication. The purpose of this research was to determine the existence of any physiological or biochemical correlate supporting the existence of these potential hazards in tree planting. Worker's health complaints were assessed from regularly distributed questionnaires. Blood samples were obtained from 14 male and three female Canadian subjects before and after tree planting work on 10 occasions throughout a tree planting season. The strenuous physical challenge of tree planting was confirmed by a significant elevation of serum enzyme activity (ESEA) at the beginning of the season, which did not return to a normal level during the remainder of the season. Significant (p < or = 0.05) inhibition of erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) postwork was observed in 15.9% of individuals, and a significant group mean prework-postwork difference of AChE or plasma pseudocholinesterase (PChE) was observed on two days of testing, indicating a potential toxicological hazard from pesticide absorption. No correlation was found between the degree of ESEA or cholinesterase inhibition and the number of health complaints.

The effect of small doses of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGMME) on the activity of acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) in erythrocytes and whole blood as well as on the delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) in blood and bone marrow was studied in Wistar rats. Significant reduction in the activity of both enzymes was noted three days after ip administration of 200 mg/kg b.w. EGMME whereas seven days later the activity of both enzymes returned to the control levels. Activity of ALA-D in blood appeared to be most sensitive to EGMME, and reacted even to the lowest dose, which did not significantly alter activity of ACHE or ALA-D in bone marrow. Haematological parameters in all treated groups remained unaltered.

An antigen with cholinesterase activity was detected in the sera of patients infected with Wuchereria bancrofti. The asymptomatic microfilaremic sera showed 3 to 4 times more cholinesterase activity for acetylthiocholine (ATCh) as compared to sera of symptomatic amicrofilaremic, hookworm infected and endemic normals, whereas the activities for butyrylthiocholine (BTCh) did not significantly differ. The enzyme activities from both sources, namely from sera of microfilaremic cases and from endemic normals, were partially purified and according to substrate specificity for ATCh and BTCh as well as inhibition of the former activity by excess substrate classified as acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7) and pseudocholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.8), respectively. The Km-value for ATCh of the cholinesterase from the microfilaremic sera was determined to be 0.87 mM. Eserine competitively inhibited the AChE activity; the inhibition constant was found to be 1.3 microM. The BChE from the normal sera had Km-values of 0.15 and 0.20 mM for BTCh and ATCh, respectively, and did not show significant inhibition by eserine. These and other dissimilarities suggest a difference in nature of the cholinesterases in microfilaremic and normal sera and propose that the former enzyme, a true acetylcholinesterase, originates from the parasite. Additional evidence for the origin of the AChE-activity from the parasite was provided by ELISA-studies; anti-Brugia malayi AChE antibodies confirmed antigenecity and cross reactivity of the AChE in infected sera, whereas the antibodies did not show any cross reactivity with the BChE in normal sera.

Soman simulator PDP is a compound that has a chemical structure identical to soman, except that the fluorine atom is replaced by a methyl group which makes PDP unable to bind covalently to the AChE active center. In rats, late mortality observed after treatment with high doses of soman could be prevented by PDP pretreatment. Such pretreatment has been much less efficient in primates. The effect of PDP in rats has been explained by blocking the deposition of soman in so-called soman depots in which soman is stored intact and subsequently released. In this paper we demonstrate that in the presence of PDP, inhibition of rat muscle AChE by soman is reduced in rat but not in human muscle homogenates. This result suggests that at least part of the beneficial effects of PDP pretreatment in rat might be due to the direct interaction of PDP with AChE resulting in reduced AChE phosphorylation by soman.

In the conditions of chronically elevated glucocorticoid agents in plasma, a drop in AChE activity of about 45% was reported. This data suggests the possibility that among other factors glucocorticoids also control AChE activity in the skeletal muscles. The question addressed in the present investigation was if AChE activity was reduced uniformly or selectively in the rat skeletal muscles after chronic application of dexamethasone? Selective effects of glucocorticoids on the AChE activity in different muscles and/or different types or regions of muscles would suggest the potential of these agents to regulate AChE metabolism in the skeletal muscle according to the environmental demands. Specific activity of skeletal muscle AChE was reduced in sternomastoideus (SM), extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and diaphragm (D) but not in soleus (SOL) after chronic dexamethasone treatment. Axial SM (white part) was more affected than distal white muscle EDL. AChE was better preserved in red rather than in white parts of muscles. The endplate-free region lost twice as much of specific AChE activity than the endplate-rich region. Our results suggest, but do not prove that glucocorticoid agents act in a selective way on the AChE metabolism of the skeletal muscles.

The radioprotective thiophosphate S-2(3 amino-propyl-amino) phosphorothioic acid (WR 2721) induced an early reduction of striatal acetylcholinesterase activity followed by an increase, when intraperitoneally injected to rats, although it does not cross the blood-brain barrier. These results were obtained using an original technique which allows the measurements in the same animal for several days. Transient general oxidative metabolism inhibition might affect the extra-cellular enzyme amount or its activity.

Chlorpyrifos (CPS; O,O-diethyl 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl phosphorothionate; Dursban) is a widely used broad-spectrum organophosphorus (OP) insecticide. Because some OP compounds can cause a sensory-motor distal axonopathy called OP compound-induced delayed neurotoxicity (OPIDN), CPS has been evaluated for this paralytic effect. Early studies of the neurotoxicity of CPS in young and adult hens reported reversible leg weakness but failed to detect OPIDN. More recently, a human case of mild OPIDN was reported to result from ingestion of a massive dose (about 300 mg/kg) in a suicide attempt. Subsequent experiments in adult hens (the currently accepted animal model of choice for studies of OPIDN) showed that doses of CPS in excess of the LD50 in atropine-treated animals inhibited brain neurotoxic esterase (NTE) and produced mild to moderate ataxia. Considering the extensive use of CPS and its demonstrated potential for causing OPIDN at supralethal doses, additional data are needed to enable quantitative estimates to be made of the neuropathic risk of this compound. Previous work has shown that the ability of OP insecticides to cause acute cholinergic toxicity versus OPIDN can be predicted from their relative tendency to inhibit the intended target, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), versus the putative neuropathic target, NTE, in brain tissue. The present study was designed to clarify the magnitude of neuropathic risk associated with CPS exposures by measuring hen brain AChE and NTE inhibition following dosing in vivo and determining the bimolecular rate constant of inhibition (ki) for each enzyme by the active metabolite, CPS oxon (CPO), in vitro.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The influence of 2 synthetic pyrethroid insecticide formulations, ie 10 mg fenvalerate/kg bw and 15 mg cypermethrin/kg bw, given during gestation and lactation periods to pregnant and nursing dams by gavage in corn oil on the morphological development and neurochemical indices was studied in neonatal rats. Exposed pups showed a significant increase in the levels of dopamine and muscarinic receptors of striatal membrane in both treatment groups. Alterations in these parameters were more marked in lactationally exposed pups. These pups also showed a significant decrease in the activity of brain monoamine oxidase and Na+, K(+)-ATPase and a significant increase in acetylcholinesterase from gestational exposure to fenvalerate. Significant decreases were observed during lactation in monoamine oxidase and acetylcholinesterase in fenvalerate-exposed pups and in acetylcholinesterase and Na+, K(+)-ATPase in cypermethrin-exposed pups. These results suggest disturbances in dopaminergic and cholinergic pathways which are more pronounced during the "growth spurt" period and may lead to a functional delay in brain maturation.

Previous studies showed that anaesthesia with the barbiturate Thiopental induces an increase in membrane fluidity and a decrease in acetylcholinesterase activity in syncytiotrophoblast plasma membranes (SPM) obtained from placentas after Cesarean section. The aim of the present work was to compare the effect of a local anaesthetic (bupivacaine hydrochloride, trade name Marcaine) on SPM in vivo and to establish whether the anaesthetic is still present in the membrane after tissue preparation. The acetylcholinesterase activity was lower in Marcaine-anaesthetized SPM (27 +/- 3 against 39 +/- 6 in the control). The Marcaine action on the SPM can be ascribed to a competitive inhibition, similar to that reported for Thiopental. Fluorescence studies of the order parameter P showed it to be higher in SPM obtained from control (0.253 +/- 0.012) than in SPM obtained from Marcaine-exposed membranes (0.240 +/- 0.015). The local anaesthetic is still present in the SPM after their preparation (20.1 ng per mg membrane protein). It appears that the local anaesthetic exhibits an effect similar to that of the general anaesthetic, apparently due to binding to the membrane.

Repeated exposures to organophosphorus (OP) insecticides has been shown to cause a decrease of cholinergic muscarinic receptors (mAChR) in brain and in peripheral tissues. These changes are believed to be involved in the development of tolerance to OP toxicity and may play a role in cognitive dysfunctions observed following repeated OP exposure. Recently, mAChRs identified in circulating lymphocytes have been shown to be modulated similarly to brain mAChRs following repeated OP exposure, suggesting that these peripheral cells may be useful as indicators of mAChR changes in the central nervous system. This study was designed to further investigate whether mAChRs on lymphocytes could serve as a biomarker for changes in brain mAChRs during prolonged OP exposure and during recovery from such exposure. Using the mAChR antagonist [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) to label mAChRs, we found that exposure to disulfoton for 14 days (2 mg/kg/day by gavage) caused a significant decrease (25-35%) in muscarinic receptors density in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and striatum, as well as in circulating lymphocytes. The decline of mAChR density in lymphocytes paralleled those observed in brain, particularly in cortex and hippocampus, during exposure to disulfoton; however, while brain mAChR levels recovered slowly after termination of exposure and remained significantly reduced 4 weeks after the last treatment, [3H]QNB binding in lymphocytes recovered rapidly within 1 week. Similarly, lymphocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was significantly inhibited and correlated well with brain AChE activity during exposure, but the recovery was rapid relative to AChE activity in brain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effects of prenatal exposure to 13.78 mg, 27.56 mg or 82.6 mg malathion/100 g body weight po from 6-13 d of gestation, to 1 microgram estradiol-17-beta/d/100g body weight or 4 mg progesterone/d/100 g body weight sc from 3-20 d of gestation, or to their various combinations on brain acetylcholinesterase activity and ascorbic acid metabolism were investigated in rat dams and pups. Brain acetylcholinesterase activity was taken as an index of toxicity. Significant inhibition of acetylcholinesterase from malathion exposure was further exaggerated by estradiol-17-beta, but was reversed by progesterone. Significant increases of ascorbic acid levels and L-gulonolactone oxidase was observed with malathion toxicity. Estradiol-17-beta decreased ascorbic acid levels and stimulated dehydroascorbatase, while progesterone had no significant effect on ascorbic acid levels or on enzyme activities.

In rat brain microvessels, tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA) caused a significant inhibition of both acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activities, in a dose-dependent manner. THA resulted to be a more potent inhibitor of BuChE than AChE. Lineweaver-Burk plots showed that Km (app) and V were altered by THA, indicating mixed competitive/non-competitive inhibition. The results of the present study also established that the three molecular forms of BuChE (G1, G2 and G4), recently described to be present in brain microvessels, are inhibited after THA treatment.

In this study a monoclonal antibody (MAb) based soman detection system was investigated. Since the MAb F71D7 recognizes the pinacolyl group of soman, non-toxic soman analogues are also detected when using an indirect competitive ELISA. This can lead to falsely positive results. The toxic effect of soman is, however, independent of the pinacolyl group. In the described homogeneous enzyme immunoassay (EIA), the inhibitory effect of soman on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was combined with its specific binding to the MAb F71D7 in order to minimize false positive results and enhance the specificity of the detection system. In this rapid EIA no incubation or washing steps are necessary, so only time for pipetting and reaction have to be considered. Soman could be detected in concentrations of 1.6-25 nM using the EIA. This corresponds to 8 pg soman per 25 microliters sample and means that compared to other ELISA systems, besides enhanced specificity, the limit of detection could be improved by 3 orders of magnitude.

[3H]Ryanodine is shown to specifically bind to cultured myotubes from 10 day quail embryo pectoralis. The binding of [3H]ryanodine increases in a time-dependent manner reaching 38 +/- 3 fmol/mg protein at 4 h. A level of theophylline (THEO; 5mM) that induces propagated wave-like contractures, doubles the capacity of the myotubes to bind [3H]ryanodine (78 +/- 7 fmol/mg protein at 4 h). Polycationic ruthenium red (100 microM) only partially inhibits (56%) [3H]ryanodine-binding, whereas the membrane permeable channel antagonist [2,6-dichloro-4-dimethyl-amino-phenyl]-isopropylamine (20 microM) inhibits occupancy > 80%. Ryanodine (10 microM) interferes with THEO-induced contractures. Pretreatment with micromolar ryanodine for 48 h, followed by washout for 48 h, causes a persistent decrease in [3H]ryanodine-binding sites. Persistent [3H]ryanodine receptor blockade coincides with a dramatic shift in AChE forms found in the myotubes. A transition from the embryonic 4S and 7S globular forms to the 20S collagen-tailed (adult) form is evident within 12 hr exposure to ryanodine and progresses after removal of the alkaloid from the culture medium, mimicking the transition that normally occurs during myocyte maturation in vivo. These results suggest that SR Ca++ movements and excitation-contraction coupling may, at least in part, contribute to AChE maturation.

Multinucleated skeletal muscle fibers are compartmentalized with respect to the expression and organization of several intracellular and cell surface proteins including acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Mosaic muscle fibers formed from homozygous myoblasts expressing two allelic variants of AChE preferentially translate and assemble the polypeptides in the vicinity of the nucleus encoding the mRNA (Rotundo, R. L. 1990. J. Cell Biol. 110:715-719). To determine whether the locally synthesized AChE molecules are targeted to specific regions of the myotube surface, primary quail myoblasts were mixed with mononucleated cells of the mouse muscle C2/C12 cell line and allowed to fuse, forming heterospecific mosaic myotubes. Cell surface enzyme was localized by immunofluorescence using an avian AChE-specific monoclonal antibody. HOECHST 33342 was used to distinguish between quail and mouse nuclei in myotubes. Over 80% of the quail nuclei exhibited clusters of cell surface AChE in mosaic quail-mouse myotubes, whereas only 4% of the mouse nuclei had adjacent quail AChE-positive regions of membrane, all of which were located next to a quail nucleus. In contrast, membrane proteins such as Na+/K+ ATPase, which are not restricted to specific regions of the myotube surface, are free to diffuse over the entire length of the fiber. These studies indicate that the AChE molecules expressed in multinucleated muscle fibers are preferentially transported and localized to regions of surface membrane overlying the nucleus of origin. This targeting could play an important role in establishing and maintaining specialized cell surface domains such as the neuromuscular and myotendinous junctions.

The vasoactive intestinal peptide concentration was examined in the colonic wall and portal venous plasma of rats with chemical colitis by radioimmunoassay, and the colonic localization was determined with immunocytochemistry. Colonic acetylcholine esterase activity was also measured, and the response of vasoactive intestinal peptide to acetylcholine administration was determined. Colitis was induced by administration of dextran sulfate for three months. The chemical colitis was histologically similar to active human ulcerative colitis. We observed a significant increase of immunostained neurons and nerve fibers and a significant rise in the colonic wall vasoactive intestinal peptide content in chemical colitis rats, while plasma concentrations of the peptide did not change significantly. Colonic acetylcholine esterase activity was significantly elevated in colitis rats compared with control rats. Systemic administration of acetylcholine significantly increased the colonic and plasma vasoactive intestinal peptide concentrations in colitis rats. These findings demonstrated a positive association between colitis activity and an increase of vasoactive intestinal peptide and suggested that increased vagal tone promoted the peptide's release.

Wistar rat pups (female) were exposed to methylparathion (MPTH) by gastric intubation in single doses, or in a chronic regimen of different durations. A single dose of 1 mg MPTH/kg body weight in 15-day-old pups caused a significant decrease of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in cerebellum (CE), motor cortex (MC) and brain stem (BS). The effect began to appear in about 20 min after administration, the peak effect was attained in 120 min and later on this waned off completely by 24 h. The effect was similar in young (15 days) and in adult (70 days) rats. A single dose of 0.2 mg MPTH/kg in 15 day old pups caused a reduction of AChE activity only in the BS, while a 0.1 mg MPTH/kg single dose given to 15-day-old pups caused no effect even in seven regions of the brain examined. Effect of low dose chronic administration of MPTH on AChE activity was also studied in CE, MC, BS, hippocampus (HI), striatum-accumbens (SA), spinal cord (SC) and also in the hypothalamus (HY). Administration of 0.1 mg MPTH/kg from second day to 15 days of age caused significant reduction of AChE activity in only 2 of the 7 brain regions studied. Administration of double the dose (0.2 mg MPTH/kg) and for a longer duration (2nd day to 150 days of age), caused a depression in all the brain regions studied. In all these regions, the levels of NA, DA and 5HT did practically not change. The results suggest that chronic consumption of MPTH leads to a moderate decrease of AChE activity in several brain regions.

The inhibitory effects of synthetic antioxidants (3-oxypyridine, pyrimidine and hindered phenols) on the enzymic activity of membrane-bound acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was studied. In terms of estimated kinetic characteristics of AChE-reaction (KM, Vmax, KI), the pattern of enzyme inhibition by the hindered phenol compounds was found to be of non-competitive or mixed type depending on the inhibitor structure or on the substrate acetylcholine or acetylthiocholine used. The comparative study of the inhibitory action of water-soluble derivatives of hindered phenols and fatty-soluble ionol made it possible to reveal possible contributions to the inhibition of both direct and mediated (by the membrane microsurroundings) effects on the membrane-bound AChE by the studied synthetic bioantioxidants.

Several neurochemical parameters were studied in brain regions of rats chronically treated with a high concentration of manganese chloride (20 mg MnCl2.4H2O per ml. of drinking water) throughout development until adulthood. Large increases in Mn accumulation were found in all brain regions (hypothalamus, +530%; striatum, +479%; other regions, +152 to +250%) of Mn-treated adult rats. In these animals, Ca levels were decreased (-20 to -46%) in cerebellum, hypothalamus, and cerebral cortex but were increased (+186%) in midbrain. Mg levels were decreased (-12 to -32%) in pons and medulla, midbrain, and cerebellum. Fe levels were increased (+95%) in striatum but were decreased (-28%) in cerebral cortex. Cu levels were increased (+43 to +100%) in pons and medulla and striatum but Zn levels were decreased (-30%) in pons and medulla. Na levels were increased (+22%) in striatum but those of K and Cl remained unchanged. Type A monoamine oxidase activities were decreased (-13 to -16%) in midbrain, striatum, and cerebral cortex, but type B monoamine oxidase activities decreased (-13%) only in hypothalamus. Acetylcholinesterase activities were increased (+20 to +22%) in striatum and cerebellum. The results are consistent with our hypothesis that chronic manganese encephalopathy not only affects brain metabolism of Mn but also that of other metals.

Rapid enzyme microassays for the detection of resistance due to organophosphate and carbamate in individual field-collected strains of Culex quinquefasciatus adults were conducted. These tests allowed accurate differentiation by eye, on the basis of color changes of susceptible and resistant individuals. Two separate tests were conducted for the biochemical assays. In the insensitive acetylcholinesterase (AChE) test, acetylthiocholine iodide (ACTH) and 5,5-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) were used as substrate and coupling agent respectively. The resulting yellow chromophore indicated AChE activity. Test results showed that the color intensity decreased as increasing concentrations of propoxur were added, thereby confirming the susceptibility of the enzyme to inhibitor. Assay of non-specific esterase however, indicated elevated levels which were correlated with degree of malathion resistance. Electrophoretic data revealed the presence of 2 esterase bands in all strains. It was concluded that such a pattern was not contributory to malathion resistance in adults.

Exposure to acrylamide (3-10 mg/kg body weight) was found to be lethal for protein-deficient pregnant rats as evidenced by their increased mortality. It had no such effect on the normal protein diet fed pregnant and nonpregnant rats and the protein-malnourished nonpregnant rats. Protein deficiency during pregnancy caused a significant decrease in the activity of brain monoamine oxidase and acetylcholinesterase and striatal [3H]spiperone binding, known to label dopamine receptors; had no significant effect on the binding of 3H-QNB (quinuclidinyl benzilate) to cerebellar and [3H]diazepam to frontocortical membranes, known to label muscarinic and benzodiazepine receptors, respectively; and had no significant effect on brain glutathione (GSH) levels in comparison with pregnant rats fed normal protein diet. Exposure to acrylamide (2 mg/kg body weight) in protein-malnourished pregnant rats caused a marked decrease in the activity of monoamine oxidase and acetylcholinesterase and also in the binding of [3H]spiperone, [3H]QNB, and [3H]diazepam to striatal, cerebellar, and frontocortical membranes, respectively. Kinetic studies revealed that decreased binding of these ligands in the specific brain regions were due to decreased receptor sites (Bmax). A reduction in the brain glutathione content was also observed in these animals in comparison with those fed a low-protein diet during pregnancy. Pregnant rats fed a normal-protein diet on acrylamide exposure, however, showed no such biochemical changes in comparison with the pregnant rats fed normal protein diet. Also, no effect on any of the parameters studied was observed in the adult nonpregnant rats fed a low-protein diet (for 18 d) and those exposed to the monomer (d 6-17) fed either a normal- or low-protein diet in comparison with respective controls. The results indicate that pregnancy under conditions of malnutrition modifies the susceptibility of pregnant rats toward acrylamide.

A regional profile of AChE activity was noted in the Indian termite queen Odontotermes redemanni with the head recording the higher and body the lower range of activity. The enzyme characteristics such as substrate and temperature optima were more or less similar while pH requirement for optimum AChE activity varied from 7.0 to 7.6 In vitro inhibition of head and body AChE was studied using pure and commercial anticholinesterase compounds. Interestingly, the commercial formulations like Metacid-50 and Carbaryl are potent enough at 1 x 10(-8) M to produce 50% in vitro inhibition of AChE of head and body regions within 15 min of preincubation. A 20 min of preincubation (t0.5) was necessary to record 50% in vitro inhibition of AChE with known and pure anticholinesterase compounds such as DFP (3.5 x 10(-10) M) and physostigmine (3.6 x 10(-10) M). It is surmised that (a) the response of the head and body AChE to the commercial formulations of the insecticides may be used as a reliable and sensitive bioindicator of pesticidal contamination of the terrestrial environment and (b) termite control may be successfully done with the application of organophosphate or carbamate compounds.

The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was measured in human serum from persons infected with the filarial parasite Wuchereria bancrofti. The asymptomatic microfilaremic serum showed five times increase in AChE-activity as compared with normal serum, whereas only little difference was observed in serum from patients with elephantiasis. Similar results were obtained when the enzyme activity was measured in the immune complexes precipitated with polyethyleneglycol. Further, the effect of the antifilarial drug diethylcarbamazine (DEC), on the AChE activity of infected and normal serum was studied in in vivo and in vitro experiments. In vitro, DEC was found to be effective only with respect to AChE from asymptomatic microfilaremic serum where 75% decrease in enzyme activity was observed at 100 mumol. The oral administration of DEC (5 mg/kg of body weight/day) effected the activity of AChE from microfilaremic serum as shown after 1 hr, 1 and 3 weeks. A regular decrease in enzyme activity of asymptomatic microfilaremic serum was observed. By increasing time periods and after three weeks the level of AChE reaches the normal value. In vitro and in vivo the same concentration of DEC has negligible effect on the normal serum suggesting that in case of asymptomatic microfilaremic serum the increased activity of AChE is different in nature than the host acetylcho-[abstract incomplete in journal]

The choline esters potentiated the choline-catalysed decarbamoylation of dimethylcarbamoyl-acetylcholinesterase in proportion to the length of acyl group, although esters containing an acyl chain longer than the hexanoyl group exhibited a corresponding decrease in the potentiation. In structural requirement analysis it was found that both the quaternary ammonium moiety and the ester bond were important for the effective acceleration of choline-catalysed decarbamoylation. In general, the respective thiocholine ester was found to be more effective than the corresponding choline ester. Whereas the binding affinity (Ka) of choline in the decarbamoylation was not significantly altered, the maximum decarbamoylation rate (kr(max.)) of choline was greatly enhanced in the presence of choline esters or thiocholine esters. Along with the above observation, the isotope solvent effect, the effect of ionic strength and the antagonism studies demonstrate that the choline esters or thiocholine esters may interact with one of peripheral anionic sites, and thereby make the choline-catalysed decarbamoylation more favourable.

The activity and molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were characterized in tissues of the carp (Cyprinus carpio). Tissue AChE activity was determined in response to specific inhibitors (ethopropazine, BW 284 C51) or pesticides (CuSO4, paraquat (PQ), methidathion (MD)). The highest AChE activity was found in the serum (878 +/- 100 U/liter), followed by the brain (113 +/- 12 U/liter), heart (89 +/- 6 U/liter), and trunk muscle (35 +/- 5 U/liter). Experiments with specific choline esterase inhibitors revealed a very low amount of pseudocholinesterase in all tissues studied. The ratio of the membrane-bound to the cytoplasmic-free AChE molecular forms was increased in the order of brain, trunk muscle, and heart. In sera of fish treated with MD (2 ppm) there was an 80% inhibition of AChE lasting for 2 weeks. Treatment with CuSO4 or PQ (both 5 ppm) led to a 50% decrease in the serum AChE activity followed by a transient increase over the control level. After 2 weeks of chronic treatment, AChE activity in fish exposed to CuSO4 returned to the control level, whereas in fish treated with PQ an elevated level (130% when compared to the control level) of enzyme activity was found. Our present experimental data indicate that pesticides occurring in natural waters not only inhibit AChE activity in fish but may influence the resynthesis of the enzyme as well.

Ancylostoma ceylanicum, the human hookworm parasite, exhibited significant secretion of cholinesterase when maintained in vitro in RPMI-1640 medium. Secretion of the enzyme was linear up-to 4 hours of incubation. About 40 percent of the total cholinesterase activity was localized in the soluble fraction, while remaining activity was associated with the particulate fraction of the nematode. Exposure of the hookworms to colchicine in vitro caused significant inhibition in secretion of the enzyme by the parasite with concomitant accumulation of cholinesterase within the adult worms. Vinblastine did not show noticeable effect on the enzyme secretion as well as activity within the parasite. Incubation of hookworms with some benzimidazole anthelmintics viz., mebendazole or albendazole significantly reduced the capacity of the worms to secrete cholinesterase and increase in enzyme activity within the parasite. Adult worms recovered from mebendazole treated hamsters exhibited about 3 fold greater activity of cholinesterase as well as significantly lower capacity to secrete cholinesterase in vitro as compared to the worms recovered from untreated animals. These observations indicate role of microtubules in the secretion of cholinesterase by hookworms and as a target for the action of benzimidazole anthelmintics.

A limited number of carbamates have been found useful for treatment of cholinergic symptoms with pyridostigmine and physostigmine being the main focus. In recent years 5-(1,3,3-trimethylindolinyl)N,N-dimethylcarbamate (I) has received considerable attention in the Chinese literature for a similar role. We report on the first synthesis of stereoisomers of an analog of (I). The isomers prepared were (R)(+)-5-(1,3,3-trimethylindolinyl)-N-(1-phenylethyl)carbamate (II) and (S)(-)-5-(1,3,3-trimethylindolinyl)-N-(1-phenylethyl)carbamate (III). The pKa value for each isomer was 6.8. Eel acetylcholinesterase inhibition studies were carried out at 25.0 degrees C over the pH range of 6.0 to 9.0. They reflect the first pH profiles using enantiomorphs of a cholinesterase inhibitor. The inhibition potencies for (II) and (III) over the range examined were similar. At pH 7.60 the ki for II = 7.38 x 10(3) M-1 min-1 (SD = 398) and for (III) the ki = 6.67 x 10(3) M-1 min-1 (SD = 355). In accord with the findings of Wilson and Bergmann20 on physostigmine our results indicate that the protonated form of (II) and (III) is the more potent inhibitor.

The ability of various oximes to antagonize the sarin-induced hypothermia and reactivate phosphorylated acetylcholinesterase was used as an indicator of the central activity of oximes. HI-6, but neither toxogonin nor PAM Cl, antagonized sarin-induced hypothermia and reactivated brain acetylcholinesterase, in particular hypothalamic acetylcholinesterase. The sarin-induced hypothermia appears to be a muscarinic cholinergic action since atropine was also an effective antagonist of sarin-induced hypothermia. Neither HI-6 nor toxogonin antagonized oxotremorine-induced hypothermia, indicating that these oximes do not possess central cholinolytic activity. The results demonstrated that HI-6 penetrated the blood-brain barrier in a sufficient concentration to produce a biochemical and physiological action against sarin poisoning.

Chlorpromazine, an antipsychotic drug is found to inhibit Na+K(+)-ATPase, Ca(2+)-ATPase and acetylcholinesterase activities in the microsomal membranes of rat in vivo, when the drug is injected for certain periods of time. The inhibition seems to be due to the changes in fatty acid composition of lipid and microviscosity of the membranes. However, once the drug has been withdrawn, the enzyme activities are found to return to the normal level in three to five weeks, suggesting that the drug effect is reversible.

A 2-fold enhancement in the efficiency of rose bengal-photosensitized inhibition of red cell acetylcholinesterase activity was observed upon excitation of the dye in the ultraviolet (UV) (313 nm) compared to irradiation in the visible (514 or 550 nm). The measurements of efficiency of photosensitized enzyme inhibition were based on the effect produced when the same number of photons are absorbed by rose bengal (RB) at each wavelength. The mechanism for this unexpected enhancement of RB photosensitization upon UV excitation was investigated. The yield of singlet oxygen (O2(1 delta g], detected by time-resolved luminescence at 1270 nm, was independent of excitation wavelength for RB. Radicals were produced upon irradiation of RB at 313 nm but not at 514 nm as detected by bleaching of N,N-dimethylnitrosoaniline (RNO). Irradiation of RB at 313 nm but not at 514 nm appeared to cause homolytic cleavage of carbon-iodine bonds in the dye because iodine radicals, I, detected as I2 were produced with a quantum yield of 0.0041 +/- 0.0005 upon excitation in the UV. Photolysis of I2 in the presence of RNO caused bleaching of the RNO absorption at 440 nm, apparently resulting from reaction of I with RNO. Thus, the enhanced photosensitization upon UV excitation of RB is attributed to formation of I and/or RB. These results indicate that radicals, produced with low relative yield but having high reactivity compared to O2(1 delta g), can contribute to photosensitized enzyme inhibition and may represent an alternative mechanism for photodynamic therapy.

A procedure for the qualitative assessment of inhibitory activity towards acetylcholinesterase for a given compound is described. Solutions of the compounds of interest are spotted on silica gel TLC plates in a matrix pattern. The silica gel plate is sprayed with a solution of acetylthiocholine iodide and 5,5-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) followed by a solution of acetylcholinesterase. The enzyme reaction produces a yellow background color with inhibitor compounds exposed as white zones where color has failed to develop. The results for a test set of compounds were compared to those obtained using the standard Ellman assay procedure and found to agree for virtually all of these compounds. The conditions of silica gel plate thickness, reagent concentration, and enzyme source under which this procedure is suitable were investigated. This represents an extremely rapid method to screen large numbers of compounds to uncover new inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase and potentially other enzymes as well.

Galanthamine, physostigmine and 9-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine (tacrine) were evaluated as inhibitors of human acetylcholinesterase activity from samples of postmortem human brain, fresh brain cortex biopsies and human erythrocytes. Acetylcholinesterase activity was most effectively inhibited in all tissues by physostigmine, followed by tacrine and galanthamine. The respective inhibitor concentrations exerting a half maximal effect (IC50) on acetylcholinesterase in postmortem human brain frontal cortex were 14 nmol/l, 1.0 mumol/l and 3.2 mumol/l versus 15 nmol/l, 1.1 mumol/l and 2.8 mumol/l in the hippocampus region. In addition, the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by galanthamine was similar in postmortem brain and brain cortical biopsies from patients submitted to brain-tumour removal, indicating that postmortem changes up to 28 h after death probably did not influence the measurement of acetylcholinesterase inhibition. While physostigmine and tacrine acted equally on acetylcholinesterase from different sources, galanthamine was 10-fold less potent in inhibiting the enzyme activity from human brain that from human erythrocytes. Comparison with issues from mice revealed that galanthamine was selectively more potent in suppressing acetylcholinesterase in human erythrocytes. The results are discussed in the light of pharmacokinetic data, and conclusions are drawn for further clinical studies.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats injected with a sublethal sc dosage of 110 micrograms/kg of sarin (isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate), or 12 micrograms/kg of VX (S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) O-ethyl methylphosphonothioate), developed severe toxic signs within 5-15 min after sarin and 20-50 min after VX lasting for 5 to 7 hr. Myonecrotic lesions were seen in soleus and diaphragm muscles within 1 hr. A maximum number of lesions had developed after 24 hr, and lesions were also present in extensor digitorum longus (EDL) at this time. Regeneration of muscle fibers was slow since lesions were still evident past 7 days of treatment. Within 1 hr following VX, AChE activity was reduced to 8, 12, and 17% of control activity in soleus, diaphragm, and EDL, respectively, whereas with sarin the enzyme activity was reduced to 23, 48, and 82% of control. A still greater inhibition was seen 24 hr after sarin when AChE activity was reduced to 19, 13, and 43% in these muscles. In skeletal muscles the different molecular forms of AChE, such as 16 S, 12 S, 10 S, and 4 S vary in location and functional importance with the 16 S form highly concentrated at the neuromuscular junction. All forms in a given muscle were equally sensitive to the inhibitors. In EDL, sarin was the least effective in reducing AChE or its molecular forms. In the brain structures (cortex, brain stem, striatum, and hippocampus), AChE activity was reduced to 1-6% of control by sarin and VX with the exception that following VX striatal AChE was reduced to only 41% of control activity. AChE activity in the brain cortex following either of the agents was maximally affected (1%). A slow but significant recovery of brain AChE was evident after 24 hr and more so after Day 7. Butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activity was less sensitive to inhibition by both inhibitors compared to AChE activity and showed a rapid recovery. Based on the equitoxic doses (toxic signs of similar magnitude), VX was found to be 10 times more toxic than sarin. The mechanisms of this disparity may be due to differences in rate of uptake, circulation, susceptibility to hydrolysis, and reactivity with nonspecific binding sites.