Distribution of the scavenger esterases against organophosphorus compounds in human tissues

Activities and distribution of somanase (diisopropylfluorophosphate fluorohydrolase, DFPase, EC 3. 1. 8. 2.), paraoxonase (EC 3. 1. 8. 1.), acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3. 1. 1. 7), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE, EC 3. 1. 1. 8.), and carboxylesterase (CaE, EC 3. 1. 1. 1.) reacting with organophosphate compounds in human tissues were investigated. The results revealed that there was plenty of somanase activity in the kidney, spleen, and liver. Paraoxonase activity was not detected in most of the tissues examined with exception of the serum. AChE activity was high in the striatum, mesencephalon and medulla oblongata. BChE was rich in the mesencephalon, pons and medulla oblongata, and also in the liver. CaE exhibited a very high specific activity in the liver.