Decomposition of acetylcholine with ethylene formation in vitro. Possible free radical mechanism of acetylcholine action.

Experiments were designed to investigate the effect of different buffered solutions, Fenton reagent and hydrogen peroxide on acetylcholine decomposition with ethylene formation. The data of the present study suggests that acetylcholine is decomposed in vitro to form ethylene by interacting with the free radicals or in the Hofmann's splitting reaction. It is found that free radicals are required for the fast decomposition of acetylcholine to form ethylene. A general mechanism to explain the rapid biological effects that can be influenced by the free radicals was proposed. We have concluded that endogenous metabolic free radicals can be involved in the decomposition of acetylcholine as well in the biological activation of formed ethylene in vivo.