Anticholinesterase action of a bromine compound isolated from human cerebrospinal fluid

A bromine compound existing in blood

Since a bromine compound with REM-sleep-inducing and anti-choline esterase activities have been isolated from human cerebrospinal fluid, and was identified as 1-methylheptyl gamma-bromoacetoacetate, the compound was chemically synthesized. It was found that this compound was composed with three forms, i.e., a keto-form, an enol-form that changed gradually from keto-form by tautomerism, and a stable six-membered ring form (= cyclic r-Br) converted from enol form, when it was chemically synthesized. In addition, it was found that the six-membered ring form of this bromine compound was present in the human blood. However, in this case, the keto-form and the enol-form were not detected. When 14C-butyrate was injected to rats, it was incorporated into the bromine compound in the blood of the animal and the bromine compound formed was found to be present mainly as the six-membered ring form. From these results, the mechanism for the formation of bromine compounds in human and animal blood were deduced.

Stimulatory effect of butoctamide hydrogen succinate on REM sleep in normal humans

1. The efficacy of butoctamide hydrogen succinate (BAHS) was compared with that of nitrazepam on the basis of the polysomnograms and the subjective assessments. 2. Twelve healthy male students were divided into three groups consisting of 4 subjects each with were administered BAHS 600 mg, nitrazepam 5 mg, and BAHS 600 mg + nitrazepam 5 mg, respectively. 3. Polygraphic recordings were made for 8 consecutive nights for each subject, and the polysomnograms were evaluated by computerized automatic analysis using the interval histogram method. 4. An inert placebo was administered on the first 3 nights and on the seventh and eighth nights, and the test article regimen was administered on the fourth, fifth and sixth nights. 5. The test articles and the placebo were administered orally at 22:30 hr, and the recording of polysomnograms was started at 23:00 hr and ended at 8:00 hr the next morning. 6. The subjects were requested to fill out the subjective assessment of sleep before falling asleep and after arising the next morning. 7. BAHS increased REM sleep and decreased stage 2 sleep significantly; however, it failed to affect stage 1, 3 or 4 sleep. 8. Nitrazepam increased significantly the total sleep time and stage 2 sleep but decreased significantly the stage 3 sleep and decreased slightly the stages 1, 4 and REM sleep. 9. The combined treatment with BAHS and nitrazepam did not alter the sleep parameters except for increasing the total sleep time. 10. No obvious changes were observed in the subjective assessments after administration of the drugs. 11. These findings suggest that BAHS results in a unique sleep pattern different from benzodiazepines, and that BAHS may be suitable for treating insomnia in elderly patients and those with drug abuse, manic-depressive illness or schizophrenia.

Molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase in human plasma and cerebrospinal fluid

The measurement of cholinesterase activities in either plasma or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may ultimately prove to be relevant in the diagnosis of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. However, studies to date have examined only total enzyme activities. Therefore in the present study we have examined the distribution of the individual molecular forms of both acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in plasma and CSF using sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Although the total activities of AChE were of the same order of magnitude in plasma and CSF, there was a considerable difference (120-500-fold) between total BChE activity in the CSF and the BChE-rich plasma. The analysis of the individual molecular forms revealed that the predominant molecular species of AChE and BChE in the CSF--both lumbar and ventricular--was the G4 form. The G4 form also constituted the majority of the plasma BChE activity and, on average, over half (56%) of the plasma AChE activity. The significance of the AChE and BChE molecular form compositions of both plasma and CSF and their possible relationship to pathological states are discussed.