A BASIS FOR THE ACETYLCHOLINE ACTION OF CHOLINE DERIVATIVES

¹ From the Department of Chemistry, New York University and New York Medical College, New York City

1. The duration of activity of a series of choline derivatives when injected into the vein was measured and found to be approximately the same for all compounds studied.

2. The relative rates of inactivation of the same series of compounds by whole blood were measured and found to vary widely.

3. The duration of depressor activity of a blood-stable compound, ethoxycholine bromide, was prolonged by prior administrations of eserine, and to the same extent as that of acetylcholine.

4. The presence of a compound with the characteristics of acetylcholine was demonstrated in blood withdrawn from the heart of an animal undergoing infusion of ethoxycholine bromide.

5. It is suggested that the vasodepressant action of choline analogues is due, in part at least, to the liberation of acetylcholine by a process of cationic exchange adsorption.

6. A possible mechanism for the disposal of choline analogues, when injected into the blood stream, is discussed.