"In vitro inhibition of human erythrocyte Acetylcholinesterase activity by Zinc and Mercury "

Abstract

The effects of zinc and mercury on human erythrocyte acetylcholinestrase activity were studied. Blood used in this study was obtained from 24 apparently healthy individuals and after hemolysation, was treted with 3 diferent concentrations of zinc and mercury. Significant suppressions in acetylcholinestrase activity were recorded in treated samples by zinc and mercury. When compared to controls the remaining activity was found to be 53% with the highest concen.tration of zinc (2.1 mg/dl, p<0.01), 72% with the middle (1.4 mg/dl, p<0.01) and 85% with the lowest one (0.7 mg/dl, p<0.01). in the case of mercury, the remaining activity was found to be 55% with the highest concentration (8.4 ng/g , p<0.01 ), 72% with the middle (5.6 ng/g , p<0.01) and 79% with the lowest one (2.8 ng/g , p<0.01). mercury showed a good correlation between doses used and decreases in activity (r=0.98). zinc also showed a linear correlation ( r=0.99). the direct interaction of metal ions with acetylcholinestrase is proposed as a mechanism for depressed enzyme activity. It is concluded that zinc and mercury contamination during acetylcholinestrase measurement can be a source of error that must be taken in to account.