Kinetic properties of erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase in patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the kinetic properties of erythrocyte acetyicholinesterase in patients with insulin-de¬pendent diabetes mellitus, since no consensus has been established on the subject, yet. Erythrocyte acetyicholinesterase activity (Vmax) was studied in 18 insulin dependent diabetic patients and 10 normal subjects. Significant increase (p<0.01) in acetyicholinesterase activity was observed in patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (n=18;10.70 ±2.30) when compared to normal subjects (n=10; 8.05 ± 1.74). Enzyme activity was ex¬pressed as 10~1® moles acetylthiocholine iodide hydrolyzed per minute per erythrocyte. Significant decrease (p<0.05) in the Km value of the enzyme was found in insulin dependent diabetic patients (n=5; 11.51 ± 3.18 u, M) when compared to normal subjects (n=5; 16.18 + 1.83 u. M). Erythrocyte acetyicholinesterase activity correlates with neither plasma glucose indicating that it is not related to diabetic control.