title: Effect of halothane administration on acetylcholinesterase activity in guinea-pig muscle and brain.
abstract: The effect of halothane administration on the activity of acetylcholinesterase molecular forms was studied in diaphragm, extensor digitorum longus (EDL), and soleus muscles, and six regions of the brain (striatum, cerebellum, cortex, hippocampus, medulla-pons, midbrain) of guinea-pigs. Six days after the anaesthetic, the activity of the G4 form was significantly increased in all three muscles and the A12 form was significantly increased in EDL. The G1 precursor form was significantly decreased in soleus. The G4 form was significantly increased in medulla-pons, and the G1 form was significantly decreased in hippocampus and midbrain. These findings show that halothane can have prolonged effects on acetylcholinesterase activity in both muscle and brain, and may have important implications for the use of halothane and other volatile anaesthetics in studies of the cholinergic system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Division of Medical Sciences, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lintern
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wetherell
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D002799:Cholinergic Fibers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D006221:Halothane