Influence of cetiedil on erythrocyte membrane microviscosity and acetylcholinesterase activity

Since one of the cellular targets of cetiedil, a vaso-erythroactive drug, is likely to be the erythrocyte membrane, we have studied the influence of this drug on erythrocyte membrane microviscosity and acetylcholinesterase activity. No effect was evidenced on microviscosity, as measured by fluorescence polarization of light emitted by DPH or TMA-DPH labelling of the lipid bilayer. Cetiedil, however, did lower acetylcholinesterase activity, but it did not directly inhibit this enzyme activity. It can therefore be considered as an amphiphilic drug that perturbs membrane properties without affecting the physical state of the erythrocyte membrane.