THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHOLINESTERASE INHIBITION AND FUNCTION IN A NEUROEFFECTOR SYSTEM

¹ Department of Pharmacology, Cornell University Medical College, New York City

The relationship between the inhibition of the cholinesterase (ChE) activity of the submaxillary gland and its physiologic responses is reported. The rate of irreversible inactivation of the ChE by DFP follows the characteristics of a first order reaction. Approximately 50 per cent of the glandular ChE can be inhibited without affecting response to nerve stimulation. From this point changes in function accompany a further progressive inactivation of ChE activity. These changes include a decrease in the frequency of stimulation required to elicit a threshold response, a prolongation of the response to maximal stimuli, and eventually the onset of spontaneous salivary secretion which begins at a ChE activity of 10 per cent of control.

The findings are discussed with respect to the physiologic and pharmacologic inter-relationships affecting chemical mediation at neuro-effector junctions.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. W. Harris, J. H. Fleisher, J. Clark, and W. J. Cliff Dealkylation and Loss of Capacity for Reactivation of Cholinesterase Inhibited by Sarin Science, October 21, 1966; 154(3747): 404 - 407. [Abstract] [PDF]