Reversibility of the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by tacrine.

Inhibition of bovine erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) by 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9-acridinamine (tacrine) was independent of time of incubation and was partially reversed by dilution and by increased substrate concentration. It was fully reversed by dialysis. Similar results were obtained with AChE from other sources. The results are consistent with some reports in the literature, but not with others; none of these reports examined all four criteria of reversibility. The results do not explain the prolonged inhibition of AChE in vivo or the ability of tacrine to protect animals against the lethal effects of organophosphate anticholinesterases.