Cholinesterase inhibition by aluminium phosphide poisoning in rats and effects of atropine and pralidoxime chloride.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the cholinesterase inhibition and effect of atropine and pralidoxime (PAM) treatment on the survival time in the rat model of aluminium phosphide (AlP) poisoning.


METHODS
The rats were treated with AlP (10 mg/kg; 5.55 x LD50; ig) and the survival time was noted. The effect of atropine (1 mg/kg, ip) and PAM (5 mg/kg, ip) was noted on the above. Atropine and PAM were administered 5 min after AlP. Plasma cholinesterase levels were measured spectrophotometrically in the control and AlP treated rats 30 min after administration.


RESULTS
Treatment with atropine and PAM increased the survival time by 2.5 fold (1.4 h+/-0.3 h vs 3.4 h+/-2.5 h, P < 0.01) in 9 out of 15 animals and resulted in total survival of the 6 remaining animals. Plasma cholinesterase levels were inhibited by 47 %, (438+/-74) U/L in AlP treated rats as compared to control (840+/-90) U/L (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary study concludes that AlP poisoning causes cholinesterase inhibition and responds to treatment with atropine and PAM.
Mittra
S
S
Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India.
Peshin
S S
SS
Lall
S B
SB
D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000506:poisoning*; D000818:Animals; D000931:Antidotes / Q000494:pharmacology; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000506:poisoning; D002801:Cholinesterase Reactivators / Q000494:pharmacology; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010575:Pesticides / Q000506:poisoning; D010720:Phosphines / Q000506:poisoning*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000201:enzymology*; D011220:Pralidoxime Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D000931:Antidotes; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D002801:Cholinesterase Reactivators; D010575:Pesticides; D010720:Phosphines; D011220:Pralidoxime Compounds; D001285:Atropine; C001864:aluminum phosphide; D002802:Cholinesterases; C028797:pralidoxime