Aim: To investigate the cholinesterase inhibition and effect of atropine and pralidoxime (PAM) treatment on the survival time in the rat model of aluminium phosphide (AlP) poisoning.
Methods: The rats were treated with AlP (10 mg/kg; 5.55 x LD50; ig) and the survival time was noted. The effect of atropine (1 mg/kg, ip) and PAM (5 mg/kg, ip) was noted on the above. Atropine and PAM were administered 5 min after AlP. Plasma cholinesterase levels were measured spectrophotometrically in the control and AlP treated rats 30 min after administration.
Results: Treatment with atropine and PAM increased the survival time by 2.5 fold (1.4 h+/-0.3 h vs 3.4 h+/-2.5 h, P < 0.01) in 9 out of 15 animals and resulted in total survival of the 6 remaining animals. Plasma cholinesterase levels were inhibited by 47 %, (438+/-74) U/L in AlP treated rats as compared to control (840+/-90) U/L (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: This preliminary study concludes that AlP poisoning causes cholinesterase inhibition and responds to treatment with atropine and PAM.