Comparative measurement of serum Acetyl Cholinesterase Enzyme using three different methods

ABSTRACT Introduction: IAChE (acetylcholinesterase) is one of the plasma’s enzymes that plays a crucial role in nervous signal transduction in synapses and is responsible for the hydrolysis of Ach. Methods: We investigated three methods for the determination of AChE in human blood serum, using three different assays. Michel methods are based on the measurement of hydrogen ion produced in processes. Ellman methods are of colorimetric type that is based on produced choline and its reaction with coloriogenic reagents. The other way to determine the enzyme activity is related to a decrease in the substrate level during hydrolysis process. De la Huerge is the method in which decrease in the Ach (acetylcholine) level is determined after the completion of reaction and than enzyme activity is calculated. Results: No significant difference was found among the results of the three methods. According to our results, Michel method has the least variation in the results and Ellman has shown the highest variation. On the other hand, Ellman needs the shortest time for each test and de la Huerga requires a longer time, so in the cases we need to report the results in a short time, Ellman is the best choice. Conclusion: These results suggest that the three methods are reliable and are comparable for determining of AChE in human blood serum. It is concluded that Michel method may be preferable to Ellman and de la Huerga methods because of its simplicity, low cost, highest precision, accuracy, sensitivity and objectivity. In addition, this method takes little time to be performed.