Anticholinesterases: Their Effects On Rabbits

Abstract

The percutaneous absorption of three anticholinestaraeas bias studied. All three, Malathion, Ethylparathion and Carboryl were found to be absorbed percutaneously. From the depression of Cholinesterase activity caused by the three compounds it appears that ehylparathion is a more potent poison than the other two. An attempt was made at studying the relationship between depression of Cholinesterase activity and the extent of poisoning, but a more extensive study would be required before such a relationship can be shown either to exist or to be absent altogether. Only in one compound, ethylparathion, did results obtained indicate such a relationship. A comparison of the extents of absorption, subsequent extent of poisoning after administration of a drug by two routes was made. Although the doses used in these two routes were not the same, the drug caused symptoms of poisoning when administered orally although no such symptoms of poisoning were observed when the drug was administered percutaneously. The drug, Carboryl, was administered in increasing doses, and it was observed that the rate of onset of toxic effects was funtion of dose. Increasing the dose was observed to enhance the rapidity with which toxic effects occured. The effects of a dithio carbamate, dithane on rabbits was studied. The drug was found to have little of any effect on Cholinesterase activity after oral administration of relatively high doses. No symptoms of poisoning were observed. It would be of great help if more was known about the ways in which the balance between enzyme activity and levels of Acetyl Choline determine the local response at the periphery and in the central nervous system.