What is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor?

Question

Gregor, who works at a pesticide factory, comes to the clinic complaining of muscle spasms that interfere with his movement nad breathing. A blood test shows that he has become contaminated with organophosphate pesticide. The doctor states that this type of pesticide is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. How would you explain to Gregor what this means?

Answer 1

AChE breaks down acetylcholine (ACh) after it interacts with the postganglionic receptors on the muscle. ACh is the signal for your muscles to contract, so since there is more ACh in the neurojunction, there is an increase in neuromuscular activity which is what is causing the spasms

Answer 2

I'll break it down from most complicated to simplest...

Organophosphates act by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase. But that means organophosphates disable the enzyme that removes acetylcholine from its neuron receptor site.

Acetylcholine (Ach) is a chemical in the brain that stimulates nerve cells. Like pushing a button to turn on a light. A special enzyme called acetylcholinesterase removes acetylcholine from its site on the nerve cell. It stops the button from being pushed.

When you can't stop the button from being pushed, the light stays on nd eventaully burns out. Likewise, if you leave Ach in its receptor site too long, the nerve gets overstimulated and eventually burns out.

So because the nerves are getting overstimulated, it's turning on various switches in the body like muscles, breathing (and memory, sweating, salivation, balance and other functions).

Answer 3

Pesticide Factory