Carbamate-derived cholinergics

Carbamate Insecticides. These are stmcturaUy optimi2ed derivatives of the unique plant alkaloid physostigmine [57-47-6] a cholinergic dmg isolated in 1864 from Phjsostigma venenosum (see Alkaloids) (17,24,35—39). The carbamates maybe considered synthetic derivatives of the synaptic neurotransmitter acetylcholine, with very low turnover numbers. The A/,A/-dimethylcarbamates of heterocycHc enols (36) and the Ai-methylcarbamates of a variety of substituted phenols (35) with a wide range of insecticidal activity were described in 1954 (35). The latter are the most widely used carbamate insecticides, and the A/-methylcatbamates of oximes have subsequentiy been found to be effective systemic insecticides. 

Cross-tolerance between disulfoton and another organophosphate, chlorpyrifos, was observed in mice (Costa and Murphy 1983b). Because of this cross-tolerance, a benefit is derived as a result of this interaction. In the same study, propoxur-tolerant mice were tolerant to disulfoton but not vice versa. Propoxur (a carbamate) is metabolized by carboxylesterases, and these enzymes are inhibited in disulfoton-tolerant animals disulfoton-tolerant animals are more susceptible to propoxur and/or carbamate insecticides than are nonpretreated animals. In another study, disulfoton-tolerant rats were tolerant to the cholinergic effects of octamethyl pyrophosphoramide (OMPA) but not parathion (McPhillips 1969a, 1969b). The authors were unable to explain why the insecticides OMPA and parathion caused different effects. 

Reversible carbamate anticholinesterase and allosteric modulator at nicotinic cholinergic receptor sites potentiating nicotinic neurotransmission. Originally derived from the bulbs of the Caucasian snowdrop (Galanthus woronowii), now prepared synthetically for clinical use in the treatment of Alzheimer s disease. 

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