Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:3.1.1.8 (cholinesterase)
12,691 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The effect of denervation and tetrodotoxin-induced muscle disuse on endplate structure was investigated in rat hind-limb muscles. The endplate was visualized by light microscopic cholinesterase staining and by scanning electron microscopy. Denervation resulted in a reduction in histochemically determined endplate dimensions proportionate to the decrease in muscle fiber circumference. Scanning electron microscopy, on the other hand, revealed a flattening or more often collapse of primary grooves with a reduction in the width of the endplate but no longitudinal shrinkage. Primary groove area per se was not measurable due to the loss of primary groove structural integrity. Thus, the apparent histochemical diminution of endplate length after denervation was artefactual, probably due to loss of cholinesterase activity and impeded access of substrate. In disuse, cholinesterase staining revealed a similar reduction in endplate girth with fiber atrophy but with a corresponding increase in endplate length. Scanning electron microscopy of disused muscle fibers confirmed these histochemical findings and the overall preservation of primary groove area. Disuse also resulted in an increase in the number of intrasynaptic primary groove branches as visualized by scanning electron microscopy. Finally, a specialized endplate "raised area", prominent in soleus muscle, was greatly reduced after disuse but much less so after denervation. Thus, after denervation, primary groove structural integrity is lost and the shape of the endplate passively follows that dictated by circumferential loss of surface membrane. In disused muscle, presence of an intact axon preserves the structure and area but not the orientation of the primary grooves which are distorted by fiber atrophy. Disuse also strongly affects other endplate surface structures visualized by scanning electron microscopy.
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PMID:Endplate topography of denervated and disused rat neuromuscular junctions: comparison by scanning and light microscopy. 673 62

Inhibition of cholinesterase activity in the blood has been proposed as an index of ChE activity in tissues targeted by ChE-inhibiting pesticides, including the muscle end-plate region and the central nervous system (CNS). While opinions vary regarding the utility of blood ChE activity in predicting ChE activity in the target tissues, there appear to be no comprehensive studies designed to assess this possible correlation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. We undertook this type of study by administering a single dose of an organophosphate, chlorpyrifos (0, 30, 60 or 125 mg/kg in corn oil, s.c.) to rats and then sacrificing animals at 1, 4, 7, 21 or 35 days after dosing. Whole blood, plasma, erythrocytes, frontal cortex, hippocampus, striatum, hypothalamus and diaphragm tissue were collected and assayed for ChE activity. Collapsed across dosages, optimal correlations of blood ChE activity with brain or muscle activity occurred 7-21 days after dosing (when ChE inhibition was maximal and most stable). At all times after dosing, there was a high correlation among ChE activity in the hippocampus, striatum and frontal cortex. Generally, ChE activity in whole blood and erythrocytes correlated better with the activity in brain and muscle than did activity in the plasma (whole blood > or = erythrocytes >> plasma). Similar relationships were also observed in a more abbreviated study using a direct acting organophosphate, paraoxon. ChE activity was determined in blood components, brain and muscle at the time of maximal inhibition (4 h after injection) and during recovery (24 hrs after injection) using two dosage levels (0.17 or 0.34 mg/kg, s.c.). Taken together, these data indicate that the level of ChE activity in the blood may accurately reflect activity in other tissues, but that this correlation is tissue- and time-specific.
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PMID:Studies on the correlation between blood cholinesterase inhibition and 'target tissue' inhibition in pesticide-treated rats. 752 96

This study was undertaken to investigate the possibility that non-cholinergic mechanism accounts for acute lethality of cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitor. Physostigmine and carbamate insecticides (2-s-butylphenyl methylcarbamate (BPMC); isoprocarb, 2-isopropylphenyl methylcarbamate (MIPC); and propoxur, 2-isopropoxyphenyl methylcarbamate (PHC)) were employed as ChE inhibitors. Rabbits intravenously given any of the ChE inhibitors showed typical signs of anti-ChE poisoning, a marked inhibition of systemic ChE activity, and an increase in RR interval on an ECG. Injection of physostigmine or PHC at a lethal dose produced a pressor response before cessation of spontaneous breathing. In contrast, injection of MIPC or BPMC primarily elicited a cardiovascular collapse, characterized by a rapid and progressive decrease in blood pressure and a decrease in QRS amplitude of ECG, before cessation of spontaneous breathing. The atropine pretreatment inhibited the pressor response, but not the depressor response and the QRS change. The pretreatment antagonized acute lethality of the ChE inhibitors except BPMC. It is suggested that the mode of lethality for intravenous ChE inhibitor could be determined by a balance between anti-ChE activity and some mechanism other than ChE inhibition. BPMC produced acute lethality through the latter mechanism rather than the former one.
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PMID:Non-cholinergic lethality following intravenous injection of carbamate insecticide in rabbits. 797 14

The objective of this study was to test our hypothesis that pregnancy modifies the central nervous and cardiovascular toxicity of cocaine. Ten chronically catheterized term pregnant rats and 13 chronically catheterized nonpregnant female rats were infused with cocaine (2 mg/kg/min) intravenously to observe the sequential toxic manifestation of cocaine from mild central nervous stimulation (hyper-locomotor activities) to fatal cardiovascular collapse. Arterial blood samples were withdrawn at the onset of major toxic signs or symptoms--namely convulsion, hypotension, and circulatory collapse--for determination of cocaine concentrations and plasma cholinesterase activity. The dosage and plasma concentrations of cocaine associated with the onset of convulsions and cardiovascular depression were significantly lower in pregnant rats when compared with the nonpregnant animals. The mean time required to develop convulsions in the pregnant rat was significantly shorter (21 minutes) than that in the nonpregnant animal (33 minutes). However, once convulsive activity had developed, the time interval to achieve circulatory collapse was similar in both groups. Although the baseline plasma cholinesterase activity was higher in the pregnant rats than in the nonpregnant ones, the values in the samples obtained from the pregnant group at the onset of circulatory collapse were similar to the baseline values for the nonpregnant group. These findings suggest that a higher enzyme activity does not protect the development of toxic manifestations in the pregnant rat as compared to the nonpregnant animal when cocaine was administered at the same infusion rate.
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PMID:Pregnancy decreases the threshold for cocaine-induced convulsions in the rat. 824 93

To test our hypotheses that gender-related differences in cocaine toxicity exist in the rat, cocaine (2 mg/kg/min) was infused intravenously in chronically catheterized male and ovariectomized or intact female rats until the onset of circulatory collapse. Sequential manifestations of cocaine toxicity from mild central nervous stimulation to fatal cardiovascular collapse were observed. Arterial blood was withdrawn at the onset of the toxic signs or symptoms for determination of cocaine concentrations. Dosages and plasma concentrations of cocaine required to produce cardiovascular toxic manifestations were significantly lower in male and ovariectomized rats than in intact females. Plasma cholinesterase activity was lowest in the male animals and highest in intact females. These data suggest that systemic toxicity of cocaine is enhanced in male rats, because lower doses and plasma concentrations are required to induce toxic signs and symptoms.
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PMID:Gender-related differences in cocaine toxicity in the rat. 834 Jun 97

This study was undertaken to investigate whether cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitor exerts cardiovascular collapse through non-cholinergic mechanism in halothane-anesthetized rabbits. Physostigmine and N-methylcarbamate insecticides (BPMC = 2-sec-butylphenyl methylcarbamate and PHC = propoxur = 2-isopropoxyphenyl methylcarbamate) were employed as ChE inhibitors. Intravenous injection of physostigmine produced a dose-related pressor response a few minutes after the injection. In contrast, the injection of BPMC elicited a dose-related depressor response during the injection. PHC produced a slight depressor response during the injection followed by a dose-dependent pressor response. Norepinephrine (NE)-induced pressor response was inhibited by the ChE inhibitors with the same order and magnitude as the depressor response. ECG of physostigmine or PHC was characterized by an increase in QRS voltage and a sinus bradycardia, and that of BPMC by a decrease in QRS voltage. Atropine pretreatment inhibited the pressor response, the increase in QRS voltage and the sinus bradycardia, but not the depressor response and the decrease in QRS voltage. From these observations, it is suggested that the pressor response is ascribed to the cholinergic mechanism (acetylcholine accumulation through ChE inhibition), but the depressor response may result from a non-cholinergic mechanism. It is also suggested that the difference in the cardiovascular response is determined by a balance between cholinergic and non-cholinergic activity of each ChE inhibitor.
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PMID:Cardiovascular collapse through non-cholinergic mechanism after intravenous injection of N-methylcarbamate insecticide in rabbits. 905 95

Cholinesterase inhibitors are commonly prescribed medicines in neurological and anesthesiological clinical practices at relatively high doses. Recent studies report that cholinesterases, originally described as neurotransmitter degradation enzymes, are expressed in the developing central nervous systems. They are hypothesized to play an important role during the establishment of neuronal cytoarchitecture. In this study, the effects of several clinically utilized cholinesterase inhibitors on one potential aspect of neuronal development were examined using a primary culture system of chick central and peripheral neurons. Three cholinesterase inhibitors, physostigmine, neostigmine, and edrophonium, suppressed the activity of the leading edges of the extending axons (the nerve growth cones) dose dependently. Filopoda and lamellipodia of nerve growth cones were collapsed by the exposure to the cholinesterase inhibitors. This action was quick, mostly within 5 min, and partly irreversible. The lowest concentration that could induce statistically significant growth cone collapse was 10(-5) M for physostigmine, 10(-4) M for neostigmine, and 10(-2) for edrophonium, respectively. The ED50 values for the growth cone collapsing activity were approximately, 10(-3) M for physostigmine. 10(-2.5) M for neostigmine, and 10(-2) M for edrophonium both in dorsal root ganglion culture and in retinal culture. Even though the result of this in vitro study cannot be applied directly to the in vivo situation, physicians should consider the potential detrimental effects of cholinesterase inhibitors to growing and regenerating nervous tissues.
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PMID:Cholinesterase inhibitors induce growth cone collapse and inhibit neurite extension in primary cultured chick neurons. 969 67

We investigated the relative contribution of several cardiorespiratory components to acute lethality produced by N-methylcarbamate cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitors physostigmine, 2-sec-butylphenyl methylcarbamate (BPMC), and 2-isopropoxyphenyl methylcarbamate (PHC) in halothane-anesthetized rabbits. Intravenous injection of these compounds produced dose-dependent pressor and/or depressor responses related to each compound. A lethal dose of physostigmine resulted in cardiovascular collapse after a pressor response. That of PHC produced cardiovascular collapse after biphasic effects on blood pressure, a transient decrease followed by an increase. Unlike these compounds, BPMC elicited a rapidly developing depressor response followed by cardiovascular collapse. Artificial ventilation prevented cardiovascular collapse and lethal actions to physostigmine and PHC, but not BPMC. A degree of acute lethality to physostigmine and PHC depended on their anti-ChE activity, whereas BPMC exhibited a low degree of lethality relative to its anti-ChE activity. While the pressor response to physostigmine and PHC was ascribed to an atropine-sensitive increase in cardiac contractility, the depressor response to PHC and BPMC was attributed to an atropine-insensitive decrease in cardiac contractility and/or vascular resistance. Similar to the order for eliciting the depressor response in vivo, all three compounds inhibited contraction of the isolated cardiac and aortic smooth muscles with the order of their inhibition in terms of anti-ChE activity, i.e., BPMC > PHC > physostigmine. Thus, the primary cause of death with physostigmine and PHC is respiratory arrest subsequent to ChE inhibition, whereas BPMC exhibiting the low degree of lethality causes cardiovascular collapse mediated through direct inhibitory effects on cardiac and vascular smooth muscle contraction.
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PMID:The role of cholinergic and noncholinergic mechanisms in the cardiorespiratory failure produced by N-methylcarbamate cholinesterase inhibitors in rabbits. 1081 50

2-sec-Butylphenyl N-methylcarbamate (BPMC) is a carbamate-type cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitor with unique toxicological properties such as noncholinergic cardiovascular collapse. Effects of BPMC on L-type Ca2+ channel currents (ICa(L)) were studied in isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique, since the examination of cardiovascular responses indicated its Ca2+ antagonistic action. BPMC induced bradycardic and hypotensive responses in vivo and inhibited contraction of isolated papillary muscles (IC50 = 1.3 x 10(-4) M) in guinea pigs. BPMC produced reversible block of ICa(L) in the concentration range of 10(-4) - 10(-3) M. At test potentials between -30 mV and +20 mV, BPMC at 3 x 10(-4) M caused marked acceleration of decay rate of ICa(L) with moderate reduction of peak ICa(L) amplitude. BPMC (3 x 10(-4) M) shifted the steady-state inactivation curve to the hyperpolarizing direction by 12.7 mV. Decay rate of Ba2+ currents (IBa(L)) was also accelerated by BPMC. Fitting analysis of inactivation kinetics of IBa(L) with a two-exponential equation revealed that BPMC accelerates the slow inactivation component. At concentrations for blocking peak IBa(L) by ca. 30%, the inactivation kinetics of IBa(L) were significantly accelerated by BPMC, but merely slightly accelerated by Ca2+ channel antagonists such as diltiazem, nifedipine, or verapamil. These results indicate that BPMC, in addition to the inhibition of ChE, blocks L-type Ca2+ channels by accelerating voltage-dependent inactivation.
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PMID:A carbamate-type cholinesterase inhibitor 2-sec-butylphenyl N-methylcarbamate insecticide blocks L-type Ca2+ channel in guinea pig ventricular myocytes. 1239 23

The anti Parkinson drug, rasagiline [R-(+)-N-propargyl-1-aminoindan], an inhibitor of type B monoamine oxidase, has been shown to suppress apoptosis induced by neurotoxins and oxidative stress. A series of novel propargylaminoindans with a carbamate moiety to inhibit cholinesterase were developed from phamacophore of rasagiline to protect or rescue deteriorated neurons in Alzheimer's and Lewy Body disease and provide a beneficial effect on the cognitive deficits. Rasagiline analogues were found to protect dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells against apoptosis induced by peroxynitrite donor. SIN-1. TV3326, [(N-propargyl)-(3R)-aminoindan-5-yl]-ethyl methyl carbamate, was as effective as rasagiline in preventing apoptosis, followed by its S-enantiomer, TV3279. The anti-apoptotic-neuroprotective activity was shown to reside in the propargylamine and not the carbamate moiety. This resulted in stabilization of the mitochondrial membrane potential, the collapse of which initiates the apoptotic cascade.
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PMID:Anti-apoptotic action of anti-Alzheimer drug, TV3326 [(N-propargyl)-(3R)-aminoindan-5-yl]-ethyl methyl carbamate, a novel cholinesterase-monoamine oxidase inhibitor. 1269 91


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