Biochemical basis for the toxic effects of triethyl lead.

129-133. The effects of triethyl lead (PbEt) have been studied on the cholinesterase activity of rat diaphragm and on serum cholinesterase in the dog. PbEt dramatically increases the duration of succinylcholine-induced myoneural block and pyridine-2-aldoxime methiodide (PAM) is able to counteract both cholinesterase inhibition and the effects on neuromuscular transmission. On the other hand, PbEt catalyses the rearrangement of catecholamines to aminochromes and inhibits catecholamine effect on smooth muscle contraction. The toxicity of PbEt and particularly its action on the central nervous system can be explained by a combination of effects which might result from an upset of cholinergic and adrenergic central pathways due to the formation of endogenous psychotogenic complexes.