[Polymorphism of human serum cholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) in Leningrad and Azerbaijan populations]

Polymorphism of human serum cholinesterase (CHE, EC 3.1.1.8.) determined by two autosomal loci Che1 and Che2 was examined among populations of Leningrad and Azerbaidjan. Routine screening and spectrophotometric methods were used to reveal the enzyme variants controlled by Che1 locus, the technique of electrophoretic separation in 7.5% PAAG being used for identification of the variants controlled by Che2 locus. The frequencies of cholinesterase variants were found to be: CHE1U-0.960 +/- 0.0140, CHE1UD-0.023 +/- 0.107, CHE1UF-0.017 = 0.0092, CHE2(5-)-0.926 +/- 0.0187, CHE2(5+)-0.074 +/- 0.0187 for Leningradian population (750 donors) and CHE1U-0.940 +/- 0.0329, CHE1UD-0.060 +/- 0.0329, CHE2(5-)-0.915 +/- 0.0386, CHE2(5+)-0.085 +/- 0.0386 for Azerbaidjanian population (200 pupils). The differences in enzyme variant frequencies were not significant for children (165), donors and persons aged sixty and older (120) for Leningradian population. The frequency of CHE1UD variant was shown to be significantly higher among Azerbaidjanian pupils, as compared to the donors and children of Leningrad. The correlations between the CHE activity and polymorphic enzyme forms, the blood groups AB0, sex and age were determined. Possible ways and mechanisms of formation of genetic cholinesterase polymorphism determined by two autosomal loci are discussed and the role of the anthropogenic factors is noted. The considerable contingent of pharmacological risk is found among populations examined, that is those having potential hypersensitivity to some local anaesthetics, non-narcotic analgetics and depolarising myorelaxants.