title: The influence of sarin on various physiological functions in rats following single or repeated low-level inhalation exposure.
abstract: Long-term effects of low doses of highly toxic organophosphorus agent sarin on various hematological and biochemical markers and physiological functions were studied in rats exposed to sarin by inhalation. The results indicate that low-level sarin-exposed rats show long-term increase in studied markers of stress and decrease in synthesis of DNA de novo without the disturbance of the functions of cholinergic nervous system. Moreover, sarin at low doses is able to induce some neurotoxic effects including an increase in the excitability of central nervous system in rats at 3 mo following inhalation exposure. Relatively long-term spatial discrimination impairments in rats exposed to low-level sarin was demonstrated too. Therefore, nerve agents such as sarin seem to be harmful not only at high, clinically symptomatic doses but also at low doses without acute clinical manifestation of overstimulation of cholinergic nervous system because of long-term manifestation of alteration of neurophysiological and neurobehavioral functions in sarin-exposed rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, Purkyne Military Medical Academy, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. kassa@pmfhk.cz
authors.forename: Jirí
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kassa
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Krejcová
authors.forename: Frantisek
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Skopec
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herink
authors.forename: Jirí
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bajgar
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sevelová
authors.forename: Milos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tichý
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pecka
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D019963:Clinical Chemistry Tests; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D012524:Sarin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D012524:Sarin