The action of tacrine on neuromuscular transmission: A comparison with hexafluorenium

Abstract

Summary: The action of tacrine has been studied in man, in the cat, and in vitro on a frog nerve-muscle preparation. The study shows that tacrine possesses both anticholinesterase and neuromuscular blocking actions. In contradistinction to hexafluorenium, tacrine does not potentiate the neuromuscular blocking action of suxamethonium at the neuromuscular junction. For this reason, in the intact animal, the potentiation of the blocking action of suxamethonium by tacrine pretreatment must depend largely on the capacity of this drug to inhibit plasma cholinesterase. © 1966 John Sherratt and Son Ltd.