Cholinesterase inhibition
Definition
The biochemical mechanism of organophosphate and carbamate toxicity: inhibition of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase prevents breakdown of acetylcholine at synapses, producing overstimulation of nervous tissue. Brain cholinesterase activity assay is the definitive test.
Related terms
- Alpha-chloralose
- A narcotic compound used legally for bird capture at low doses; at higher doses, fatally hypothermic. Illegal use targets raptors. Identified by...
- Carbofuran
- A carbamate insecticide (N-methyl carbamate group) that inhibits acetylcholinesterase. Marketed as Furadan; highly toxic at low doses; documented in large-scale raptor and...
- LC-MS
- Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry: the confirmatory analytical method for pesticide residues in biological matrices. Separates compounds by chromatography, then identifies them by mass-to-charge...
- Organophosphate
- A class of synthetic pesticides that irreversibly inhibit acetylcholinesterase, causing cholinergic toxidrome: muscle paralysis, hypersecretion, seizures. Common agricultural compounds (e.g. dimethoate, chlorpyrifos)...
- PAX field kit
- Poison Avoidance eXplorer immunoassay kit: a rapid colorimetric screening tool that detects compound groups (OPs, carbamates, rodenticides) in field extracts from bait...
Explained in
- Poison and Pesticide Evidence in Wildlife CasesThe biochemical mechanism of organophosphate and carbamate toxicity: inhibition of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase prevents breakdown of acetylcholine at synap...