Simple methods for the detection of tropinesterase activity in rabbits

Abstract

Abstract In experiments in which rabbits are to be given atropine or certain atropine-like agents, it is important to select animals whose plasma is deficient in the enzyme tropinesterase (atropinesterase). Three simple procedures for assessing the presence of this enzyme in rabbits in vivo have been examined. It is concluded that a different procedure is needed for albino rabbits than for animals with dark irides. In this way, 95–98% correct assessments of the presence or absence of tropinesterase have been made by simple procedures within 1 hr. Fully reliable assessments could only be made by in vitro methods, two of which (one quantitative and the other qualitative) are described. The latter enabled a reliable all-or-none assessment of tropinesterase activity to be made with only 0·'02 ml of plasma within 1–2 hr.