cholinesterase

noun

cho·​lin·​es·​ter·​ase ˌkō-lə-ˈne-stə-ˌrās 

-ˌrāz

1

: an enzyme that occurs chiefly at neuromuscular junctions and promotes the hydrolysis of acetylcholine at postsynaptic receptors : acetylcholinesterase

2

: butyrylcholinesterase

Examples of cholinesterase in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As a cholinesterase inhibitor, donepezil works by inhibiting cholinesterase, an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, aiming to preserve the patient's level of this neurotransmitter. —Mariana Lenharo, Health.com, 13 Apr. 2022

Namenda is a glutamate regulator and Namzaric is a combination cholinesterase inhibitor and glutamate regulator. —Byrichard Eisenberg, Fortune Well, 15 June 2023

Pharmaceutical companies built on this work to develop drugs generally called cholinesterase inhibitors that increased acetylcholine in the brain by inhibiting the enzyme that breaks it down, allowing more of the neurotransmitter to stay around to stimulate nerve cells. —Susan Molchan, STAT, 12 July 2021

This drug is a cholinesterase inhibitor which works by preventing the normal breakdown of acetylcholine, Dr. Stolbach explains, which then pushes more acetylcholine into the brain's synapses and counters the anticholinergic effects of diphenhydramine. —Sarah Jacoby, SELF, 4 Sep. 2020

In addition to donepezil, there are two other cholinesterase inhibitors: galantamine and rivastigmine (the one that also has a patch version). —Mariana Lenharo, Health.com, 13 Apr. 2022

Donepezil and others like it, such galantamine and rivastigmine, belong to a class of medications called cholinesterase inhibitors, typically prescribed for mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. —Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 9 June 2021

Carbamates and organophosphates, both pesticides, use cholinesterase inhibitors to neutralize the nervous system of insects. —Miriam Berger, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2020

The nerve agent is a cholinesterase inhibitor, part of the class of substances that doctors at Charite said last week had shown up in Navalny's system. —Arkansas Online, 2 Sep. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

cholinesterase

noun

cho·​lin·​es·​ter·​ase ˌkō-lə-ˈnes-tə-ˌrās, -ˌrāz 

1

: an enzyme that occurs chiefly at neuromuscular junctions and promotes the hydrolysis of acetylcholine at postsynaptic receptors : acetylcholinesterase

The acetylcholine released by cholinergic fibers is rapidly decomposed by the action of cholinesterase.

—John W. Hole, Human Anatomy & Physiology

As a cholinesterase inhibitor, it increases parasympathetic nervous system activity.

—T. A. Farley et al., The Journal of the American Medical Association

2

: butyrylcholinesterase