Potential revival of cholinesterase inhibitors as drugs in veterinary medicine

Žnidaršič, Neža (author), Štrbenc, Malan (author), Grgurevič, Neža (author), Snoj, Tomaž (author)

The cholinergic system is involved in the regulation of all organ systems and has acetylcholine (ACh) as almost its only neurotransmitter. Any substance is called cholinergic if it can alter the action of acetylcholine. Cholinesterases (ChEs) are enzymes that enable the hydrolysis of acetylcholine and in this way ensure homeostasis in cholinergic synapses. Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEi) are a group of indirect-acting cholinergic agonists that influence the activity of the cholinergic system. Several compounds that can inhibit cholinesterases are of importance to veterinary medicine from pharmacological and toxicological perspective. The frequency of their use in veterinary medicine has fluctuated over the years and is now reduced to a minimum. They are mainly used in agriculture as pesticides, and some are rarely used as parasiticides for companion animals and livestock. In recent years, interest in the use of new cholinesterase inhibitors has increased since canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) became a recognized and extensively studied disease. Similar to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in humans, CCD can be treated with cholinesterase inhibitors that cross the blood–brain barrier. In this review, the mammalian cholinergic system and the drugs that interact with cholinesterases are introduced. Cholinesterase inhibitors that can be used for the treatment of CCD are described in detail.

• Language: English
• Keywords: cholinergic system, cholinesterase inhibitors, organophosphates, carbamates, canine cognitive dysfunction, cognitive dysfunction, dogs
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.02 - Review Article
• Organization: VF - Veterinary Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: 11 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 10, art. 1125618
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-144645
• UDC: 636.09:577:612
• ISSN on article: 2297-1769
• DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1125618
• COBISS.SI-ID: 144140035
• Publication date in RUL: 06.03.2023

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Frontiers in veterinary science
• Shortened title: Front. vet. sci.
• Publisher: Frontiers Media
• ISSN: 2297-1769
• COBISS.SI-ID: 3969402

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P4-0053
• Name: Endokrini, imunski in encimski odzivi pri zdravih in bolnih živalih