Pharmacological Inhibition of Acetylcholine Synthesis (original) (raw)

Nature volume 178, page 1181 (1956)Cite this article

Abstract

SCHUELER1 has designated as the “hemicholiniums” a series of quaternary bases2 which exhibit an unusual kind of toxicity. Chemically they are characterized by the incorporation of a choline (or choline-like) moiety into a six-membered ring through hemiacetal formation. Their most striking pharmacological action is respiratory paralysis: this is central in origin and late in onset, and when the dose is not too large can be prevented by the administration of either eserine or choline. Schueler noted that hemi-cholinium intoxication presents several features reminiscent of poisoning by botulinus or tetanus toxin, and suggested that it might be due to interference with some cholinergic mechanism. We thought that a substance having such effects might be a specific poison of acetylcholine synthesis, and through Dr. Schueler's kindness we have been able to verify this notion with compound No. 3 of his series, here called _HC_3.

Similar content being viewed by others

Article PDF

References

  1. Schueler, F. W., J. Pharmacol., 115, 127 (1955).
    CAS Google Scholar
  2. Long, J. P., and Schueler, F. W., J. Amer. Pharm. Assoc. (Sc. Ed.), 43, 79 (1954).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  3. Perry, W. L. M., J. Physiol., 119, 439 (1953).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  4. Shelley, H., J. Physiol., 131, 329 (1956).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  5. Mann, P. J. G., Tennenbaum, M., and Quastel, J. H., Biochem. J., 33, 822 (1939).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  6. Lipmann, F., J. Biol. Chem., 160, 173 (1945).
    CAS Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal
    F. C. MACINTOSH, R. I. BIRKS & P. B. SASTRY

Authors

  1. F. C. MACINTOSH
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  2. R. I. BIRKS
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  3. P. B. SASTRY
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

MACINTOSH, F., BIRKS, R. & SASTRY, P. Pharmacological Inhibition of Acetylcholine Synthesis.Nature 178, 1181 (1956). https://doi.org/10.1038/1781181a0

Download citation

This article is cited by