Alkylating derivative of hexadecamethonium protects muscle synaptic acetylcholinesterase against inhibition

The action of the alkylating derivative of hexadecamethonium on frog neuromuscular transmission was studied with the help of intracellular microelectrodes. Treatment of frog m. cutaneous pectoris-n. pectoralis preparations with the alkylating derivative of hexadecamethonium (0.5 microM) for 30 min led to an irreversible decrease in the amplitude of the end-plate potentials by 2.5-fold without a change of their latency period or quantal content. Such treatment led also to a considerable reduction of the anticholinesterase effects of neostigmine and of the organophosphorus irreversible inhibitor, armine. Thus, when applied to intact nerve-muscle preparations, neostigmine (2 microM) or armine (1 microM) increased the amplitude of end-plate potentials by 80-90%, and the rise time and half-decay time by about 2- to 3-fold. However, after the nerve-muscle preparations were pretreated with the alkylating derivative of hexadecamethonium (0.5 microM, for 30 min), the amplitude of end-plate potentials increased by 20-25%, rise time by 15-20% and half-decay time by 40-50% only. Investigation of muscle acetylcholinesterase activity, using the Ellman technique, showed that the alkylating derivative of hexadecamethonium diminished the sensitivity of the muscle acetylcholinesterase to inhibition without exerting its own inhibitory action.