The present study examined the effect of $\alpha$-solanine in vivo under controlled experimental conditions. The study examined the effect of $\alpha$-solanine on cholinesterase enzyme activity at two levels of dietary protein. The study showed that intraperitoneal $\alpha$-solanine at 1 mg/Kg B.W. inhibited the cholinesterase activity in the liver but only at 12 hours post-injection in the animals fed the standard protein diet. The study examined the relationship between dietary factors and the anti-cholinesterase effect which has not been studied previously. The effect of low dietary protein was evident in all tissues but was only significantly different in the liver. In the liver, a significant difference in enzyme activity was observed in both the low and standard protein groups at all three time points. In other tissues there was a reduction in activity due to the low protein diet but it was not statistically significant. This study suggests that the anti-cholinesterase effect of $\alpha$-solanine is afactor in the toxicity of animals resulting from the ingestion of potato glyoalkaloids and toxicity may be greater in animals with inadequate nutritional status. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)