L-ARGININE AS A REACTIVATOR OF CHOLINESTERASES AND ANTIDOTE FOR INTOXICATION BY ANTICHOLINESTERASE AGENTS AND CYANIDES
RADOY I. IVANOV1 , ELITZA T. DENCHEVA2*
1 Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Faculty of Biology, Department of Human and Animal Physiology, Sofia, Bulgaria
2 Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Faculty of Biology, Department of Zoology and Anthropology
*Corresponding author: e-mail: elidencheva@abv.bg
Keywords: L-Arginine; аcetylcholinesterase; butyrilcholinesterase; biomonitoring; Na-Nitroprusside; nitric oxide; cyanides; neurothoxicology; antidote.
Abstract: This study demonstrates the potential, through preventive and therapeutic techniques, to manage and regulate the activity of cholinesterases.
L-Arginine has been found to affect significantly the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in various brain structures in vertebrates and the activity of AChE in total fractions of invertebrates. An interesting relation was observed – the stimulating effect of L-Arginine on cholinesterases is proportional to the level of inhibition of their activity. Such a stimulation is a special characteristic of BChE, which eliminates all choline esters, many poisons of plant and animal origin, narcotic agents, drugs and others. This enzyme is the major factor protecting the nervous system and synapses from damage.
Major damaging factors in this aspect are anticholinesterase pesticides, insecticides, nerve poisons and others. This work also analyzes the toxic action and mechanisms of action of various cyanide-containing products. The list includes Na-Nitroprusside, which contains 5 cyanide radicals in its molecule, K-ferricyanide and others. L-Arginine has been shown to reactivate cholinesterase activity, which is inhibited by cyanides.