title: Protective effect of diazepam pretreatment on soman-induced brain lesion formation.
abstract: Histopathological analyses of brains of rats receiving a single 0.9 LD50 injection of soman, a potent anticholinesterase neurotoxin, revealed massive widespread lesions in the cerebral cortex and thalamus 4 weeks post-injection. Such lesions were not evidenced in rats receiving diazepam (2.2 mg/kg, i.m.) 10 min prior to soman treatment. Thus, anticonvulsant antidotes may aid in preventing extensive or permanent brain damage in rats surviving near-lethal soman dosages.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009207:Myoclonus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012999:Soman / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D012999:Soman; D003975:Diazepam