Acetylcholinesterase concentrations in heparinized blood of Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis).
Organophosphate and carbamate pesticides inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) at nerve synapses. Blood samples from 22 Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis) were assayed for cholinesterase levels by two different techniques. Using the modified Michel method, the whole-blood cholinesterase activity levels ranged from 0.082 to 0.616 deltapH/hr with a mean value of 0.35 deltapH/hr. A reference range (0.08-0.62 deltapH/hr) for cholinesterase was established in birds. The modified Ellman spectrophotometric method was used to measure AChE activity by adding acetylthiocholine or pseudocholinesterase (plasma cholinesterase) activity by adding butyrylthiocholine. The reference range of the AChE activity using the modified Ellman spectrophotometric method was 0-1.12 micromol/ml/min with a mean of 0.48 micromol/ml/min, and for pseudocholinesterase the range was 0.09-0.98 micromol/ml/min with a mean of 0.53 micromol/ml/min.
Tully
Thomas N
TN
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Skip Bertman Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA.
Osofsky
Anna
A
Jowett
Peter L H
PL
Hosgood
Giselle
G
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002219:Carbamates; D007306:Insecticides / Q000506:poisoning*; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D010311:Parrots / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D013053:Spectrophotometry / Q000662:veterinary
D002219:Carbamates; D007306:Insecticides; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D000109:Acetylcholine