Tricresyl phosphates and cholinesterase

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Abstract
The inhibitory activity of a saturated soln. of tri-o-cresyl phosphate (TOCP) on human plasma cholinesterase and rat serum tributyrinase depends on the concn. of the original suspension. Treatment of TOCP with ethanolic NaOH results in complete loss of inhibitory activity. After injn. of TOCP into rabbits and chickens, the inhibitory activity is markedly enhanced, compared to activity added to blood in vitro. Incubation of TOCP with rat liver slices resulted in marked enhancement of inhibitory power. Oral admn. of tri-cresyl phosphates to chicks results in ataxia at 14 days and extensive demyelination in the spinal cord by 21 days for the ortho compound, whereas no paralysis or ataxia and only traces of demyelination are observed with m- and p-compounds, nor do they inhibit chick serum cholinesterase.