Pintor_1992_Neurotoxicol_13_289

The effects of acute and repeated treatments with an anticholinesterase (anti-ChE) compound, diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) on M1-acetylcholine receptor (M1-AChRs) density and on M1-mediated breakdown of inositol phospholipids were studied in the cerebral cortex of rats. The DFP doses induced an about 75% inhibition of cortical ChE 48 hr after the last treatment. The acute treatment did not change Bmax of M1-AChRs (measured as 3H-pirenzepine binding), while 1-week and 2-weeks treatments induced their significant down-regulation, by 14 and 29%, respectively. The responsiveness of M1-AChRs was measured in cortical prisms as accumulation of inositol phosphate (IP) following stimulation with a cholinergic agonist, carbachol (from 10 to 1000 microM). The IP accumulation (expressed as ratio stimulated/basal IP content) was lower in acute DFP rats than in controls at few carbachol concentrations, and after 2 weeks at most carbachol concentrations. This resulted in a significant increase of EC50. The data indicate the involvement of cortical phosphatidyl inositol system during intoxication by anti-ChE agents, namely a decreased efficiency of post-receptor mechanisms.