Chemical Properties

Tetraethylammonium Chloride is a white crystalline powder. The solubility is 1000000 mg/L at 25 °C.

Uses

Tetraethylammonium chloride (TEAC) has been used:

• used for inhibition of peroxynitrite induced relaxation in rat aorta rings
• as a pharmacological blocker of K⁺ current and Ca²⁺ induced K⁺ current in antennal lobe neurons
• for the induction of TEAC sensitive currents in cochlear inner hair cells digested with proteolytic enzymes and analyze its properties

Uses

Medicine (nerve-blocking agent).

Uses

Tetraethylammonium Chloride can be used as a source of tetraethylammonium ions for various pharmaceutical studies and has the ability to block K+ channels in various tissues. Tetraethylammonium Chloride can also block the transmission of nervous impulses across autonomic ganglions.

Definition

ChEBI: Tetraethylammonium chloride is a quarternary ammonium chloride salt in which the cation has four ethyl substituents around the central nitrogen. It has a role as a potassium channel blocker. It is a quaternary ammonium salt and an organic chloride salt. It contains a tetraethylammonium.

General Description

Visit our Sensor Applications portal to learn more.

Hazard

Tetraethylammonium Chloride is a strong irritant to the skin and eyes and may be harmful to the heart and central nervous system. Oral, intraperitoneal and intramuscular lethal dose studies in mice and rats caused drowsiness, tremors and muscle weakness; intravenous injection of 5 mg/kg in humans caused paralysis, mydriasis and ptosis.

Biological Activity

Non-selective K + channel blocker.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Tetraethylammonium chloride (TEAC) blocks K+ channels non-specifically. In rat aorta rings, tetraethylammonium inhibits relaxation induced by peroxynitrite. It blocks nicotinic acetylcholine neurotransmission by blocking the receptor-mediated K+ currents. TEAC can increase the contractility and mobility of colon and rectum and is a therapeutic option for Hirschsprung′s disease patients. TEAC reduces the inflammatory responses, improves cardiac, vascular and hemodynamic properties during early sepsis in animals. TEAC has cytotoxic and anti-proliferative potential and induces apoptosis in glioma cells by downregulating B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and upregulating Bcl-2 associated X (Bax).

in vitro

tetraethylammonium (tea) is a small ion that is thought to block open k channels by binding either to an internal or to an external site. for this reason, it has been used to probe the ion conduction pathway or pore of k channel mutants and a k channel chimera. tea blocks k+ channels at two sites, which define the inner and outer mouths of the channel pores [1].

in vivo

vasorelaxant effect of taurine can be diminished by tea in rat isolated arteries [2]

storage

Room temperature (desiccate)

Purification Methods

Crystallise the chloride from EtOH by adding diethyl ether, from warm water by adding EtOH and diethyl ether, from dimethylacetamide or from CH2Cl2 by addition of diethyl ether. Dry it over P2O5 in vacuum for several days. It also crystallises from acetone/CH2Cl2/hexane (2:2:1) [Blau & Espenson J Am Chem Soc 108 1962 1986, White & Murray J Am Chem Soc 109 2576 1987]. [Beilstein 4 IV 332.]

References

[1] taglialatela m, vandongen am, drewe ja, joho rh, brown am, kirsch ge. patterns of internal and external tetraethylammonium block in four homologous k+ channels. mol pharmacol. 1991 aug;40(2):299-307.
[2] niu lg, zhang ms, liu y, xue wx, liu db, zhang j, liang yq. vasorelaxant effect of taurine is diminished by tetraethylammonium in rat isolated arteries. eur j pharmacol. 2008 feb 2;580(1-2):169-74. epub 2007 oct 25.
[3] shea pa, dunklee pe, et al. preliminary clinical investigation of tetraethylammonium chloride with particular reference to disorders of the circulatory system. calif med. 1948 sep;69(3):193-6.