Cholinesterase Reactivators: Mapping of their Effect in the Rat Brain (Toxicological, Biochemical and Histochemical Study)

摘要

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in different rat brain areas (frontal cortex, pontomedullar area, nucleus ruber) was detected using biochemical and histochemicai methods following untreated and treated (atropine with obidoxime, HI-6 or K048) intoxication with tabun. The correlation between the AChE activity detected by these methods in the brain areas was good except for nucleus ruber. Following treatment with reactivators, small but significant AChE reactivation was observed in some brain structures. AChE activ-ity here correlating with toxicological data (survival/death of experimental animals) was observed, too. Frontal cortex and pontomedullar area were described as the most sensitive structures in this manner. The pontomedullar area controls respiration, so that the special sensitivity of AChE is important for understanding the mechanism of death/survival following nerve agents poisoning. The universality of oximes to be able to reactivate AChE inhibited by all nerve agents is also questioned.