Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Assessing Changes in Volatile General Anesthetic Sensitivity of Mice after Local or Systemic Pharmacological Intervention
Published on: October 16, 2013
Time-course changes of acetylcholinesterase activity in blood and some tissues in rats after intoxication by Russian
Jana Zdarova Karasova1, Jiri Bajgar, Daniel Jun
1Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, Trebesska 1575, 500 01 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
Abstract:
The toxic effect of organophosphates is attributed to irreversible inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7), the enzyme that hydrolyses the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Inhibition potency in vivo of one of the most toxic nerve agents--Russian VX (RVX;N,N-diethyl-2-[methyl-(2-methylpropoxy)phosphoryl]sulfanylethanamine) (1 x LD(50) dose administered intramuscularly, i.m.) was studied in rats. AChE in blood was inhibited by 50%, 3 min after i.m. RVX. Butylcholinesterase (BChE; EC 3.1.1.8) in plasma was inhibited less rapidly and only by 10-20%, 20 min after RVX. AChE and BChE activities in diaphragm were reduced only 35% and 15% at 30 min. While AChE and BChE activities were reduced only about 20% and 15%, respectively, the decline in activity was rapid, occurring within 3 min. These findings indicate that RVX most potently inhibits ChE outside the central nervous system.
Related Concept Videos
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...
Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacokinetics
Reversible agents containing quaternary amines, such as neostigmine and edrophonium, are not easily absorbed orally because they are...
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacokinetics
Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship
Reversible inhibitors display short to medium durations of action. Short-acting agents include simple alcohols with...
Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Mechanism of Action
Reversible inhibitors like edrophonium bind to a specific part of the enzyme called the anionic catalytic site. They form noncovalent bonds, which means they are not strongly attached to the enzyme. This creates a temporary and less stable enzyme–inhibitor complex, leading to...
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...

