Parathion acetylcholinesterase inhibition

Following inhibition by methyl parathion, acetylcholinesterase activity recovers as a result of the synthesis of new enzyme, generally at a rate of approximately 1% per day. However, the symptoms of methyl parathion poisoning usually resolve much more rapidly. Therefore, even though they are symptom-free, persons poisoned by methyl parathion may be hypersusceptible to its effects and should avoid reexposure for several weeks (Aaron and Howland 1998 Proctor et al. 1988). 

With repeated exposures, acetylcholinesterase inhibition can persist without indications of toxicity. In most cases, cholinesterase inhibition is without overt effects. Methyl parathion cannot cause delayed neurotoxicity. 

Veronesi B, Pope C (1990) The neurotoxicity of parathion-induced acetylcholinesterase inhibition in neonatal rats. Neurotoxicology... 

Gibson, J.R. and J.L. Ludke. Effect of SKF-525A on brain acetylcholinesterase inhibition by parathion in fishes. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol 9 140-142, 1973. 

Cahdlo, G., Valenzuela, M., Vilaxa, A,. Duran. Y, Rudolph, [., Hrepic, N., and Calaf, G. (2001). A rat mammarj tumor model induced by the organophosphorous pesticide.s parathion and malathion, pos.sibly through acetylcholinesterase inhibition. Environ. Health Perspecl. 109,471-479. 

Exposure of two species of freshwater fish to 0.106 ppb of a commercial formulation containing 50% methyl parathion increased serum levels of T3 and reduced T4 (Bhattacharya 1993). This effect was attributed to inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity in the fish brain, but no direct evidence was presented. Similar treatment of freshwater perch for 35 days resulted in decreased release of progesterone from the ovaries (Bhattacharya and Mondal 1997). Also, treatment of freshwater perch for up to 90 days with methyl parathion induced a decrease in the gonadosomatic index (not defined) after day 15 of... 

Compounds that affect activities of hepatic microsomal enzymes can antagonize the effects of methyl parathion, presumably by decreasing metabolism of methyl parathion to methyl paraoxon or enhancing degradation to relatively nontoxic metabolites. For example, pretreatment with phenobarbital protected rats from methyl parathion s cholinergic effects (Murphy 1980) and reduced inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity in the rat brain (Tvede et al. 1989). Phenobarbital pretreatment prevented lethality from methyl parathion in mice compared to saline-pretreated controls (Sultatos 1987). Pretreatment of rats with two other pesticides, chlordecone or mirex, also reduced inhibition of brain acetylcholinesterase activity in rats dosed with methyl parathion (2.5 mg/kg intraperitoneally), while pretreatment with the herbicide linuron decreased acetylcholine brain levels below those found with methyl parathion treatment alone (Tvede et al. 1989). 

A recent method, still in development, for determining total 4-nitrophenol in the urine of persons exposed to methyl parathion is based on solid phase microextraction (SPME) and GC/MS previously, the method has been used in the analysis of food and environmental samples (Guidotti et al. 1999). The method uses a solid phase microextraction fiber, is inserted into the urine sample that has been hydrolyzed with HCl at 50° C prior to mixing with distilled water and NaCl and then stirred (1,000 rpm). The fiber is left in the liquid for 30 minutes until a partitioning equilibrium is achieved, and then placed into the GC injector port to desorb. The method shows promise for use in determining exposures at low doses, as it is very sensitive. There is a need for additional development of this method, as the measurement of acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme inhibited by exposure to organophosphates such as methyl parathion, is not an effective indicator of low-dose exposures. 

Hahn T, Ruhnke M, Luppa H. 1991. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase by the organophosphorus insecticide methyl parathion in the central nervous system of the golden hamster i Mesocricetus aumtus). Acta Histochem (Jena) 91 13-19. 

Other additional studies or pertinent information that lend sunnort to this MRL Methyl parathion affects the nervous system by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase activity. Cholinesterase inhibition and neurological effects have been observed in humans and animals, for all exposure routes and durations (for example. Dean et al. 1984 Desi et al. 1998 EPA 1978e Gupta et al. 1985 Nemec et al. 1968 Suba 1984). 

Most insecticides, especially the organophosphate group, cause neurotoxicity as their major mode of action. Assessment of the neurotoxicity includes neurochemical endpoints such as cholinesterase (including acetylcholinesterase, which is the major neurotransmitter in vertebrates such as fish, and other enzymes such as butyrylcholinesterase) inhibition and behavioral endpoints such as swimming speed [79]. Studies done in rats show the neurotoxic action of insecticides such as dimethoate, methyl parathion, dichlorvos, ethyl parathion or propoxur after a prolonged exposure [80,81]. 

Organophosphorous Compound Containing elements of phosphorous and carbon, the physiological effects of such a compound include inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. A number of pesticides including parathion and malathione, and virtually all nerve agents, are organophosphorous compounds. 

Parathion is one of a class of phosphorothionate triesters widely used as insecticides. These compounds exert their toxic effects in insects and mammals by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. The phosphorothionates, in general, are relatively poor inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase but are converted by the cytochrome P-450-containing monooxygenase enzyme systems in insects and mammals to the corresponding phosphate triesters that are potent inhibitors of this enzyme. 

C. Bronchoconstriction and secretion and muscular weaknesses occur from acetylcholine accumulation after inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. Parathion is an organophosphate insecticide that inhibits acetylcholinesterase, and it is readily available. Poisoning with compound 1080 (fluorocitrate) inhibits mitochondrial respiration and causes seizures and car-... 

Metabolites that are less reactive than suicide inhibitors may impact more distant enzymes, within the same cell, adjacent cells, or even in other tissues and organs, far removed from the original site of primary metabolism. For example, organopho-sphates (OPs), an ingredient in many pesticides, are metabolized by hepatic CYPs to intermediates, which, when transported to the nervous system, inhibit esterases that are critical for neural function. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) catalyzes the hydrolysis of the ester bond in the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, allowing choline to be recycled by the presynaptic neurons. If AChE is not effectively hydrolyzed by AChE in this manner, it builds up in the synapse and causes hyperexcitation of the postsynaptic receptors. The metabolites of certain insecticides, such as the phos-phorothionates (e.g., parathion and malathion) inhibit AChE-mediated hydrolysis. Phosphorothionates contain a sulfur atom that is double-bonded to the central phosphorus. However, in a CYP-catalyzed desulfuration reaction, the S atom is... 

Anatoxin-a(s) is a phosphate ester of a cyclic iV-hydroxyguanidine (Fig. 16.2) [5]. It is the only natural organophosphate known and, as the synthetic parathion and malathion, irreversibly inhibits acetylcholinesterase. When this enzyme is inhibited, acetylcholine is no longer hydrolysed, the postsynaptic membrane cannot be repolarised, the nerve influx is blocked and the muscle cannot be contracted. 

H-Chlorpyrifos oxon binds covalently to rat heart M2 musearinic receptors (Bomser and Casida, 2001). The site of attachment has not been identified. When guinea pigs were treated with chlorpyrifos, diazinon, or parathion at doses too low to inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity, the M2 muscarinic receptors lost their abihty to inhibit acetylcholine release from parasympathetic nerves, causing bronchocon-striction (Lein and Fryer, 2005). 

Chambers JE and Chambers HW (1990) Time course of inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and aliesterases following parathion and paraoxon exposures in rats. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 103 420-429. 

Dichlorvos is of moderate acute toxicity, with an oral LD50 value in rodents from 50 to 150mgkg. While the LC50 for inhibiting mammalian brain acetylcholinesterase is similar between dichlorvos and paraoxon (i.e., the active metabolite of parathion), the acute LD50 values for these agents are considerably different, due in part to the more rapid metabolism and elimination of dichlorvos. 

As with other organophosphorothioate agents, the toxicity of methyl parathion is due to inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by the active metabolite (i.e., methyl paraoxon), resulting in stimulation of the central nervous system, the parasympathetic nervous system, and the somatic motor nerves. 

The mechanism of toxicity for parathion is similar to that of chlorpyrifos. Following activation to the potent anticholinesterase paraoxon, acetylcholinesterase is inhibited within synapses and acetylcholine levels accumulate. This leads to overstimulation of cholinergic receptors of neurons, muscle cells, and end-organs culminating in cholinergic toxicity. 

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