Ketamine protects acetylcholinesterase against inhibition by propoxur and phoxim.

In the present study the effect of ketamine on the contractions caused by propoxur and phoxim on the isolated guinea pig ileum was investigated. Ketamine was found able to inhibit in a concentration-dependent manner the contractile responses of the ileum to propoxur and phoxim, while it did not significantly modify the contractions induced by acetylcholine. Propoxur and phoxim augmented the contractile responses induced by acetylcholine in the presence of acetylcholinesterase. This augmentation was prevented by ketamine, in a concentration-dependent manner. These findings suggest that ketamine inhibits the contractile effect of propoxur and phoxim on the guinea pig ileum and this inhibition seems to be associated with the protection of acetylcholinesterase against the action of these two compounds.