Primary Dermal Irritation Potential of Physostigmine Salicylate

摘要

Soman, the primary nerve agent utilized by threat forces, is refractory to the standard antidotal therapy, atropine and pralidoxime (2-PAM), fielded by the US Army. A regimen incorporating pyridostigmine as a prophylactic agent, combined with standard atropine/2-PAM therapy, has proven extremely effective in reducing mortality of Rhesus monkeys to multilethal concentrations of soman. The primary dermal irritation potential of physostigmine salicylate was determined in eight male New Zealand White rabbits using a modified Draize procedure. Well-defined erythema was recorded for three rabbits, and very slight erythema was recorded for two rabbits at physostigmine salicylate-treated sites 30-60 minutes after patch removal. In one rabbit with well-defined erythema, very slight edema was also observed. Very slight erythema was still observed in two rabbits 24 hours after patch removal. The test sites of all rabbits had returned to normal by 48 hours after patch removal. Neither erythema nor any other recognizable skin reaction was detected at any other time during the 14-day observation period. Physostigmine salicylate was classified as a negligible irritant in accordance with test criteria. Keywords: Toxicity. (aw)