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Pseudocholinesterase activity in some human body fluids.
General Pharmacology
|January 1, 1983
Summary
Pseudocholinesterase activity varies significantly across human body fluids. While plasma and whole blood are reliable indicators of organophosphate exposure, other fluids like sweat and saliva offer only approximate insights into poisoning.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Toxicology
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Pseudocholinesterase is a key enzyme in detoxifying organophosphates.
- Measuring enzyme activity in various body fluids can aid in diagnosing poisoning.
- Previous studies have focused on specific fluids, necessitating a broader comparison.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify and compare pseudocholinesterase activity across multiple human body fluids.
- To determine the reliability of different body fluids as biomarkers for organophosphate exposure.
Main Methods:
- Assessed pseudocholinesterase activity using butyrylthiocholine iodide and propionylthiocholine iodide substrates.
- Measured enzyme activity in sweat, lacrimal fluid, urine, parotid saliva, whole saliva, whole blood, and plasma.
Main Results:
- Pseudocholinesterase activity showed similarity between erythrocytes and plasma.
- Enzyme activity levels were comparable in sweat, lacrimal fluid, urine, parotid fluid, and whole saliva.
- Activity in these non-blood fluids was approximately 1/1500th of that found in plasma.
- Whole blood and plasma exhibited significantly higher enzyme activity compared to other tested fluids.
Conclusions:
- Plasma and whole blood are suitable for monitoring organophosphate exposure due to high pseudocholinesterase activity.
- Sweat, lacrimal fluid, urine, and saliva show low pseudocholinesterase activity, providing only a rough estimate of acute poisoning.