Molecular Pharmacology, Vol 4, 274-287, Copyright © 1968 by the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

Hydrolysis of Succinyldicholine and Succinylmonocholine in Human Serum

¹ Institute of Human Genetics, University of Hamburg, and Department of Biochemical Genetics, Institute of Human Genetics and Anthropology, University of Freiburg i. Br., Germany

The enzymatic hydrolysis of the muscle relaxant suxamethonium (succinyldicholine) and the first product of its degradation, succinylmonocholine, in sera of different pseudocholinesterase phenotypes have been investigated. Kinetic data were obtained, using ¹⁴C-labeled substrates, thus making the method very sensitive and accurate at concentrations of pharmacologic interest. Radioactivity of substrates and split products were estimated after separation by high voltage electrophoresis on paper. The results give much evidence that in human serum both esters are hydrolyzed by pseudocholinesterase.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT This investigation was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and by the Fonds der Chemischen Industrie.