Effects of Di‐isopropylfluorophosphate on the Metabolism of Choline and Phosphatidylcholine in Rat Brain

Abstract —The subcutaneous administration of 2·0 mg DFP per kg to rats causes a diminution in the lysophosphatidylcholine content in the brain, which is followed by a decrease of glycerylphosphorylcholine concentration and by a reduced post mortem choline increase. This supports the hypothesis that a post mortem increase in choline is due to phosphatidylcholine breakdown. Since the amount of phosphatidylcholine in brains of di‐isopropylfluorophosphate‐treated rats increases, it is concluded that phospholipase A is inhibited by di‐isopropylfluorophosphate, which corresponds to findings of other authors in vitro. The activity of glycerylphosphorylcholine diesterase (EC 3.1.4.2) is not altered.