Yeungnam Univ J Med.  1999 Dec;16(2):326-332.

The Effects of Ethanol on Cholinesterase Inactivation by Organophosphorous

• Choi HC
• Kim JH
• Ha JH
• Lee KY
• Kim WJ
• Woo HJ
• Huh CU
• Son SM
• Chun EJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In korea the agricultural community widely uses organophosphorous, and organophosphorous poisonings are increasing every year. We compared change in activity of acetylcholinesterase and pseudocholinesterase by organophosphorous and by the interaction of ethanol and organophosphorous. We also compared the effect of reversible anticholinesterase drugs, physostigmine and neostigmine. The object of this study is to investigate the effects of several anticholinesterase drugs and on how ethanol influences the activity of cholinesterase.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Fifteen male university students were randomly selected, and blood samples were taken from the antecubital vein. The acetylcholinesterase in the RBC and the pseudocholinesterase in the serum were extracted and separated. The enzyme activity change was measured by the electrometric method. After adding acetylcholine, the pH change was measured with a pH meter.
RESULTS
AND CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that reversible anticholinesterase drugs decreased the cholinesterase activity more efficiently than organophosphorous. The acetyl cholinesterase and pseudocholinosterase activity were decreased by ethanol. When ethanol was added, oxime a cholinesterase activator, increased acetylcholinesterase activity but dose not increased pseudocholinesterase activity.

Keyword

Organophosphorous; Anticholinesterase drug; Ethanol

MeSH Terms

Acetylcholine
Acetylcholinesterase
Cholinesterase Inhibitors
Cholinesterases*
Ethanol*
Humans
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Korea
Male
Neostigmine
Physostigmine
Poisoning
Pseudocholinesterase
Veins
Acetylcholine
Acetylcholinesterase
Cholinesterase Inhibitors
Cholinesterases
Ethanol
Neostigmine
Physostigmine
Pseudocholinesterase