OBJECTIVES: The current standard treatment of organophosphate poisoning consists of an administration of anticholinergic drugs and cholinesterase reactivators (oximes). Oximes can react - except their reactivating effect on cholinesterases - directly with cholinoreceptors. HI-6 is an oxime that may have an inhibitory effect on the muscarinic receptors, too. METHODS: In our work, we have investigated an influence of HI-6 on the acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and on the muscarinic receptors in vitro. The study was conducted using biosensor technique and on the rat bladder using in vitro test (tissue bath; methacholine as muscarinic agonist). IC50 for BChE from human serum was determined to be 1.01x10-6 M and for human erythrocytes AChE 3.31x10-6 M, respectively. CONCLUSION: We assume that the demonstrated contractile response can be attributed to the inhibition of the AChE at the lower concentration and to a predominant inhibition of muscarinic receptor at higher concentration of compound tested.

Department of Toxicology Faculty of Military Health Sciences University of Defence Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

Alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is a target in pharmacology and toxicology

Methylacridinium and its cholinergic properties