title: Effects of organic solvents on erythrocyte membrane acetylcholine esterase activity.
abstract: In the present study, the effects of several organic solvents on human erythrocyte membrane acetylcholine esterase activity were tested in vitro with the Ellman method. All the organic solvents studied decreased the enzyme activity. The effects of aromatic hydrocarbons were greater than the effects of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons. The effect on membrane ACh-esterase was greater at low temperatures, when tested with toluene (300 ppm) and using incubation temperatures of +5 degrees, +15 degrees, +25 degrees and +37 degrees. The erythrocyte membrane was considered a suitable model for studying the membrane effects of organic solvents. The membrane effects may be associated with the narcotic potency of organic solvents.
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000032:analysis*; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated / Q000494:pharmacology; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D012997:Solvents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013696:Temperature; D014050:Toluene / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds; D012997:Solvents; D014050:Toluene; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase