title: Effect of diisopropylfluorophosphate and atropine or mecamylamine on acetylcholine levels in the central nervous system of the rat.
abstract: The effect on acetylcholine levels caused by diisopropylfluorophosphate, either alone or in combination with atropine or mecamylamine, has been studied in the olfactory brain, medulla pons and cortex of the rat. At sublethal doses (0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg), diisopropylfluorophosphate reduced the acetylcholine levels. This effect was completely antagonized by atropine in the medulla pons and by mecamylamine in the medulla pons, olfactory brain and partly in the cortex. These observations suggest that the reduction of acetylcholine levels at low doses of diisopropylfluorophosphate is mediated by a muscarinic system in the medulla pons and by a nicotinic system in the medulla pons, the olfactory brain and also, in part, in the cortex.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, University of Turin, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Molinengo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ghi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oggero
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity; D007531:Isoflurophate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008464:Mecamylamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000502:physiology; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000502:physiology; D011149:Pons / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007531:Isoflurophate; D008464:Mecamylamine; D001285:Atropine; D000109:Acetylcholine