| Abstract: | Naphthylvinylpyridine (NVP) in the cat cerebral cortex (50 mg/kg) and in the mouse brain (100 and 250 mg kg) caused inhibition of choline acetyltransferase (ChA) and didn't influence the acetyl- and butyrilcholinesterase activity and acetylcholine (Ach) content in the mouse brain. NVP (25 mg/kg) failed to influence the ChA activity. Pretreatment with NVP (25 and 250 mg/kg) increased the duration of hexenal sleep in mice greatly, and a dose of 250 mg/kg (but not of 25 mg/kg) enhanced the atropine activity in mice poisoned with armine. NVP (250 mg/kg) reduced the release of Ach from the cerebral cortex of a cat, spontaneous and evoked by atropine and electrical stimulation of the reticular formation of the brain stem. A conclusion was drawn that the pharmacological effect of NVP when the latter was applied in combination with atropine and armine could be connected with the anti-Cha action and the inhibition of the newly-formed Ach, rather than with depression of the microsomal enzymes. |
