Investigations into cholinesterase levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of psychotic patients

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Abstract
Of 55 aged male psychotics studied, 31 had a high, 13 a normal and 11 a low serum true cholinesterase. Of 16 mental defectives investigated, 15 gave values within the normal range. A low serum or cerebrospinal fluid cholinesterase level was not related to brain size. No correlation could be observed between true and pseudo-cholinesterase levels, or between serum and cerebrospinal fluid cholinesterase levels. The significance of the true cholinesterase levels in the various groups is discussed. From 1 to 90 min. after electroconvulsive treatment the serum cholinesterase level may be raised, lowered or unchanged, but after repeated shocks there is a decrease in this level. It is suggested that the changes in true cholinesterase levels in electroconvulsion treatment cases may imply a regulatory mechanism in which (i) cholinesterase is at once used by the central nervous system to break down acetylcholine, and therefore disappears from the blood, and (ii) new cholinesterase is produced to enter the blood stream.

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