The oxime HI 6 is considered to be effective in soman poisoning and less effective in tabun poisoning. Recently, HLö 7 was shown to reactivate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibited by soman and tabun. Therefore, the efficacy of HLö 7 and HI 6 was compared in soman poisoned guinea-pigs. Female Pirbright-white guinea-pigs were anaesthetized with urethane (1.8 g/kg) and the a. carotis, v. jugularis and trachea were cannulated. After base line measurements soman 0.08 mg/kg (= 5 x LD50) or 0.16 mg/kg (= 10 x LD50) was injected intravenously, 2 min. later the antidotes were applied intravenously: HLö 7 0.03 or 0.1 mmol/kg, HI 6 0.03 or 0.1 mmol/kg, atropine 10 mg/kg, or a combination of atropine and an oxime. Respiratory and circulatory parameters were recorded for 60 min. or until the death of the animal. The injection of 5 x LD50 soman resulted in a rapid respiratory arrest followed by circulatory failure in the soman and soman plus oxime groups (survival time about 7 min). Atropine restored the circulatory parameters to base line but was unable to provide a sufficient respiratory function (survival time 26 min.). The combination therapy with atropine plus HLö 7 or HI 6 improved the respiration sufficiently, restored the circulation completely, and prolonged the survival time to about 50 min. Atropine treatment was insufficient in animals poisoned with 10 x LD50 soman. The combination of atropine and HLö 7 or HI 6 improved respiration, circulation, and survival time to various extent. Despite of the striking therapeutic effect no reactivation of erythrocyte AChE by the antidotes was observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)