Effects of some metabolites of pyritinol (Encephabol) on ACH release from brain slices.

The K+ stimulated release of radioactively labelled ACH from cortical slices obtained from rats was increased by some pyridine derivatives that are metabolites of pyritinol. It appears that this effect is not mediated by an interaction with cholinergic receptors but may be related to the lipid solubility of the compounds. It is suggested that an effect of these metabolites on the membrane of nerve endings may be part of the mechanism by which pyritinol treatment increases ACH levels and release in old rats.