Delayed neurotoxic effect of sarin in mice after repeated inhalation exposure

J Appl Toxicol. 1993 Mar-Apr;13(2):143-5. doi: 10.1002/jat.2550130212.

Abstract

Delayed neurotoxicity of sarin in mice after repeated inhalation exposure has been studied. Female mice exposed to atmospheric sarin (5 mg m-3 for 20 min) daily for 10 days developed muscular weakness of the limbs and slight ataxia on the 14th day after the start of the exposure. These changes were accompanied by significant inhibition of neurotoxic esterase (NTE) activity in the brain, spinal cord and platelets. Histopathology of the spinal cord of exposed animals showed focal axonal degeneration. These changes were comparatively less than in animals treated with the neurotoxic organophosphate, mipafox. Results from this study indicate that sarin may induce delayed neurotoxic effects in mice following repeated inhalation exposure.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Animals
  • Ataxia / chemically induced
  • Ataxia / pathology
  • Blood Platelets / enzymology
  • Brain / enzymology
  • Brain / pathology
  • Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / drug effects*
  • Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Female
  • Isoflurophate / analogs & derivatives
  • Isoflurophate / toxicity
  • Mice
  • Nervous System Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Nervous System Diseases / enzymology
  • Nervous System Diseases / pathology
  • Neuromuscular Diseases / chemically induced
  • Neuromuscular Diseases / pathology
  • Sarin / administration & dosage
  • Sarin / toxicity*
  • Spinal Cord / enzymology
  • Spinal Cord / pathology

Substances

  • Isoflurophate
  • mipafox
  • Sarin
  • Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases
  • neurotoxic esterase