Effects of selective alkylphosphorylation of propionylcholinesterase on the regeneration of acetylcholinesterase in the aqueous soluble fraction of superior cervical ganglia of the rat following sarin.

The rates of regeneration of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and propionylcholinesterase (PrChE) in the supernatants of aqueous homogenates of rat superior cervical ganglia, centrifuged at 100,000 g for 90 min, were determined at 1, 3, 6, and 16 h following their inactivation (greater than 90%) by administration of sarin, 2.0 mumol/kg i.v. Values were compared with those in animals in which the PrChE was continually suppressed by the repeated, fractional administration of iso-OMPA, in a total dose of 10 or 20 mumol/kg i.p. These doses of iso-OMPA alone produced 96-99% inactivation of PrChE with no detectable effect on AChE. Significant suppression of AChE regeneration by iso-OMPA administration was noted only at 6 h; in contrast with earlier findings in the cat, administration of iso-OMPA alone caused no significant increase in ganglionic AChE activity.