Abstract
The intravenous administration of 0.5 mg/kg hexafluorenium ·2Br delayed the onset, and potentiated and prolonged the neuromuscular block produced by succinylcholine or suxethonium.
The potentiation of the myoneural action of succinylcholine and suxethonium is due to the inhibitory effect of hexafluorenium on plasma cholinesterase.
The 150 values of hexafluorenium for the hydrolysis of acetylcholine, benzoylcholine, succinylcholine and procaine by plasma cholinesterase, and that of acetylcholine by washed, hemolyzed red cells were determined.
Determination of the hydrolysis rate of acetylcholine and succinylcholine by plasma, and that of acetylcholine by red cells, obtained before and at various intervals after the intravenous administration of 1.0 mg/kg hexafluorenium, indicated that hexafluorenium remained in the plasma in concentrations capable of producing more than 50% inhibition of acetyicholine hydrolysis for over 90 minutes, and that it did not penetrate human red cells and did not inhibit red cell cholinesterase under these circumstances.
In 0.5 mg/kg doses, hexafluorenium has only an insignificant curare-like neuromuscular effect which is potentiated by deep ether anesthesia.
Footnotes
- Received December 7, 1959.
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