Toxicity of an acute dose of agent VX and other organophosphorus esters in the chicken.
The neurotoxicities of single doses of a chemical warfare agent VX [phosphonothioic acid, methyl-S-(2-[bis(1-methylethyl)amino/ethyl) O-ethyl ester], a metabolite of the agricultural chemical parathion, paraoxon, PO (phosphonothioic acid, diethyl paranitrophenyl ester), and the known neuropathic agents DFP] phosphorofluoridic acid, bis(1-methylethyl) ester] and TOCP (phosphoric acid, tri-o-tolyl ester) were compared in the chicken. Single injections (subcutaneous, sc) of VX as high as 150 micrograms/kg (5 times the LD50, intramuscular, im) were tolerated by laying tens if atropine and 2-pralidoxime were used as antidotes before and immediately after injection. The 150 of VX for inhibition of chicken brain acetylcholinesterase was approximately 5 X 10(-10). Plasma acetylcholinesterase, but not butyrylcholinesterase, was depressed 2 h after injections of 2-20 micrograms VX/kg im without antidotes. Levels of plasma enzymes such as creatine kinase, indicative of tissue damage, were increased after exposure to both VX and PO. Injections of up to 150 micrograms/kg of VX with antidotes did not cause locomotor or histological signs of organophosphorus-induced delayed neuropathy, but single injections of 400 mg TOCP/kg did.
Wilson
B W
BW
Department of Avian Sciences, University of California, Davis 95616.
Henderson
J D
JD
Chow
E
E
Schreider
J
J
Goldman
M
M
Culbertson
R
R
Dacre
J C
JC
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology; D002645:Chickens; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007531:Isoflurophate / Q000633:toxicity; D009132:Muscles / Q000201:enzymology; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D010278:Parathion / Q000633:toxicity; D014317:Tritolyl Phosphates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D007531:Isoflurophate; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds; D010278:Parathion; D014317:Tritolyl Phosphates; C009680:VX-agent; C025541:tri-o-cresyl phosphate