The effect of cholinesterase inhibitors on the antimuscarinic effect of hemicholinium-3 (HC-3) in the rat.

The effect of hemicholinium-3 (HC-3) on responses of the rat isolated bladder and ileum to acetylcholine and carbachol was investigated in the absence and presence of a number of anticholinesterases. Responses of the bladder to acetylcholine were potentiated by DFP, edrophonium, BW284C51 and physostigmine but were unaffected by the specific butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor iso-OMPA. Responses to carbachol were not potentiated by the anticholinesterases. HC-3 (1.7 X 10(-4) M) inhibited responses to carbachol without affecting those to acetylcholine. In the presence of physostigmine or DFP responses to acetylcholine were inhibited by HC-3 but no such inhibition was observed in the presence of BW284C51, edrophonium or iso-OMPA or a combination of the latter two anticholinesterases. Responses to carbachol were also inhibited to a greater extent in the presence of DFP. In the ileum, responses to acetylcholine were increased in the presence of DFP, edrophonium and physostigmine but were unaffected by iso-Ompa. responses to carbachol were not increased by any of the anticholinesterases. HC-3 (2.8 X 10(-4) M) inhibited responses to both acetylcholine and carbachol in the ileum and the degree of inhibition was not significantly altered by the presence of any of the anticholinesterases used. Although a weak anticholinesterase, HC-3 was also found to decrease the inhibitory action of physostigmine on the hydrolysis of acetylcholine by homogenates of rat ileum. A similar effect was noted with DFP but not with edrophonium. The results obtained do not support a prejunctional action for HC-3 in antagonizing responses to carbachol. It is concluded that in addition to an inhibitory action on the post-junctional muscarinic receptor HC-3 may interfere with the anticholinesterase activity of some cholinesterase inhibitors such as physostigmine and DFP but not edrophonium.