Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Bladder Smooth Muscle Strip Contractility as a Method to Evaluate Lower Urinary Tract Pharmacology
Published on: August 18, 2014
Dose-response effect of serum butyrylcholinesterase activity after clinical doses of pancuronium
1Department of Anesthesia, Hospital Henri Mondor (APHP) and Faculty of Medicine Paris XII, Créteil, France. motamed@igr.fr
Introduction:
Low-dose pancuronium is known to affect serum cholinesterase activity (BChE); however, the dose-response effect of clinical doses of pancuronium on BChE has not been investigated.
Methods:
Thirteen ASA I-II patients scheduled for elective surgery requiring muscle relaxation were enrolled in this study. All patients had normal BChE before surgery. Incremental doses of pancuronium (10, 20, 50, and 100 microg/kg) were injected in accordance with surgical needs every 45 min. BChE was measured 3 min after injection by an automatic colorimetric method.
Results:
BChE decreased significantly in all except one patient in comparison to the baseline (P < 0.05). However all values remained within normal clinical range. A dose of 100 microg/kg yielded significant decrease in comparison to 10 microg/kg but not to other dosages. Linear regression was not significant for the dose-response relationship (P = 0.05).
Conclusion:
After clinical incremental doses of pancuronium, BChE remained within clinical range.
Related Concept Videos
Depolarizing Blockers: Pharmocokinetics
Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacological Actions
At the neuromuscular junction, these agents work by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, allowing it to remain bound to the receptor and bind to nearby receptors. This process leads to repetitive firing of the endplate, causing muscle...
Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacokinetics
Reversible agents containing quaternary amines, such as neostigmine and edrophonium, are not easily absorbed orally because they are...
Anticholinesterase Agents: Poisoning and Treatment
Irreversible agents form a strong bond with the cholinesterase enzyme, making it inactive. The breakdown of the phosphorylated enzyme is slower than the...
Nondepolarizing (Competitive) Neuromuscular Blockers: Pharmacological Actions
Although all competitive neuromuscular blockers are designed...
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacokinetics
