in vitro inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity in human red blood cells by cadmium and lead

the effects of cadmium and lead on human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase activity were studied. blood used in this study was obtained from 24 healthy individuals, then after hemolysation, treated with 3 various concentrations of cadmium and lead. a strong inhibition of acetylcholinesterase was noted in treated samples by cadmium and lead. the remaining activity in the case of lead, the remaining activity was found to be 81% with the highest concentration , s7% with the middle and 94% with the lowest one (30 fi g/dl, p<0.05). cadmium showed a nearly linear correlation between doses used and decrease in activity (r- = 0.s3), lead showed a better correlation (r- = 0.92). the direct effect of metal ions on ache, i.e. a decrease in quantity of the enzyme, may be a proposed mechanism for this depression.