Inhibition of cholinesterase by 5-hydroxytryptamine.

On the basis of structural relationships between 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonine) and eserine, the effect of 5-HT on partially purified brain cholinesterase (ChE) was studied. The addition of 5-HT to brain ChE in vitro resulted in its inhibition, and the constants characterizing this inhibition, namely, the inhibition rate ki (5.44 X 10(2) mol-1/l - min-1), the equilibrium constant K (1.86 X 10(-3), and the rate constant for spontaneous reactivation kr (1.01 min-1) were determined. The inhibition of AChE by 5-HT in vitro was found to be of the competitive type.