Evidence for the existence of neurotoxic esterase in neural and lymphatic tissue of the adult hen.

Hen brain and spinal cord contain a number of esterases that hydrolyze phenyl valerate (PV). Most of this activity is sensitive to inhibition by micromolar concentrations of paraoxon. Included among the paraoxon-resistant esterases is neurotoxic esterase (NTE), which is inhibited in vivo and in vitro by certain organophosphorus compounds, such as mipafox, which cause delayed neurotoxicity. Since published information on the NTE content of non-neural tissues was heretofore lacking, a comprehensive study was undertaken of the occurrence of this enzyme in tissues of the adult hen (Gallus gallus domesticus), the species of choice in the study of organophosphorus-induced delayed neurotoxicity. Complete differential titration curves of PV esterase activity were obtained by preincubation of each tissue homogenate with a wide range of concentrations of paraoxon, a non-neurotoxic compound, plus or minus mipafox, a neurotoxic compound, followed by PV esterase assay. Brain NTE activity was determined to be 2426 +/- 104 nmoles.min-1.(g wet weight)-1 (mean +/- S.E.M.). Titration of other tissues resulted in the following NTE activities, expressed as percentages of brain NTE activity: spinal cord (21%), peripheral nerve (1.7%), gastrocnemius muscle (0%), pectoralis muscle (0%), heart (4%), liver (0%), kidney (0%), spleen (70%), spleen lymphocytes (26%), and blood lymphocytes (24%). Using an abbreviated procedure, erythrocytes and plasma showed no NTE activity. These results indicate that NTE has limited distribution among the tissues of the adult hen and is present in lymphatic as well as neural tissue.