Evidence of necrosis in human intercostal muscle following inhalation of an organophosphate insecticide.
Intercostal muscle samples obtained from autopsy of a 51-year-old male exposed to an organophosphate insecticide were analyzed for cholinesterase activity and muscle fiber integrity. Muscle cholinesterase activity, 5 days after exposure, was reduced to 53% of control values. Histological analysis indicated the presence of muscle fibers with subsarcolemmal grouped granular basophilic inclusions and scattered necrotic fibers. Results indicate that acute organophosphate exposure through inhalation can lead to skeletal muscle fiber damage in humans, similar to results obtained by ingestion. Furthermore, the pathology is comparable to the histological alterations observed in rats following acute injection of organophosphates.
Wecker
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Mrak
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Dettbarn
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WD
D000336:Aerosols; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000378:metabolism; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides; D007366:Intercostal Muscles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000201:enzymology; D009336:Necrosis; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds
D000336:Aerosols; D007306:Insecticides; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D002802:Cholinesterases