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Rates of spontaneous reactivation and aging of acetyicholinesterase in human erythrocytes after inhibition by organophosphorus pesticides

C Sams

A J Stevenson

Health and Safety Laboratoiy, Broad Lane, Sheffield, S3 7HQ, UK

R Rawbone

Health Directorate, Health and Safety Executive, Stanley Precinct, Bootle, L20 3QZ, UK

The in vitro rates of spontaneous reactivation and aging in human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase were studied after inhibition by a dimethoxy (RjR₂) and diethoxy substituted (RjR₂) organophosphate pesticide (OP) of general structure R₁R₂P(O)X. These have been compared with data for human plasma cholinesterase previously reported using a similar methodology.

A significantly slower rate of aging for erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase was found compared to plasma cholinesterase, whether inhibited by dimethoxy or diethoxy substituted OPs. For diethoxy OPs the rate of spontaneous reactivation of the inhibited plasma enzyme was significantly slower than for the inhibited red cell enzyme. This acetylcholinesterase, and previously published plasma cholinesterase, data suggest that in practise a blood sample taken 30-40 h after significant acute OP exposure will still show inhibition in either plasma or erythrocyte cholinesterase when analysed, but that any inhibited plasma enzyme is more likely to be in the aged form. In contrast a substantial proportion of the erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase is found unaged and therefore sensitive to reactivation by oximes. Samples from an occupational exposure where depressions in plasma or erythrocyte cholinesterase activity from baseline measurements were reactivated ex vivo using the oxime 2-PAM support this hypothesis. These data also confirm that the plasma enzyme is a more sensitive than erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase as an indicator of OP exposure and thus the potential value of ex vivo oxime reactivation of erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase in a blood sample to indicate subclinical OP exposure may be limited. However, this study is too small to draw conclusions on the sensitivity of ex vivo oxime reactivation of acetylcholinesterase as a novel biomarker of excessive OP absorption. Given that there is a better relationship between anticholinergic symptoms and red cell acetylcholinesterase inhibition, and that the slower resynthesis rate of any aged or inhibited red cell enzyme may be interpretatively useful when venepuncture is delayed, it is suggested that red cell acetylcholinesterase activity does have a place in monitoring potential OP exposure.

Key Words: cholinesterase • erythrocytes • organophosphates

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