Activation of acetylcholinesterase by vanadate.

Vanadate activated acetylcholinesterase in rat ventricular strips. This effect of probably due to the action of vanadate (V) form rather than to vanadyl (IV). Vanadate also activated purified acetylcholinesterase from the electric eel and also erythrocytes, suggesting a direct effect upon this enzyme system. It is possible that the increase in the activity of acetylcholinesterase produced by vanadate may contribute, at least in part, to the positive inotropic effect of vanadate.