Changes in erythrocyte membrane proteins during protracted increases in the blood cholinergic activity of animals

Experiments were made on 10 dogs to study the influence of high cholinergic activity of the blood on protein of dog erythrocyte membranes. The cholinergic activity of the blood was enhanced by acetylcholine injections in a dose of 1 mg/kg and proserin injections in a dose of 0.008 mg/kg twice daily over a period of 2 to 7 months. It was found that the enhanced cholinergic activity of the blood entailed an increase insolubilization of erythrocyte membrane proteins and an appreciable build up (more than twofold) in the number of sulfhydryl groups, as well as a lowering (about twofold) of the number of disulfide groups in peripheral proteins of erythrocyte membranes.