Changes of acetylcholinesterase activity in different rat brain areas following intoxication with nerve agents: biochemical and histochemical study.
Acetylcholinesterase activity in defined brain regions was determined using biochemical and histochemical methods 30 min after treating rats with sarin, soman or VX (0.5 x LD(50)). Enzyme inhibition was high in the pontomedullar area and frontal cortex, but was low in the basal ganglia. Histochemical and biochemical results correlated well. Determination of the activity in defined brain structures was a more sensitive parameter than determination in whole brain homogenate where the activity was a "mean" of the activities in different structures. The pontomedullar area controls respiration, so that the special sensitivity of acetylcholinesterase to inhibition by nerve agents in this area is important for understanding the mechanism of death caused by nerve agents. Thus, acetylcholinesterase activity is the main parameter investigated in studies searching for target sites following nerve agent poisoning.
Bajgar
Jiri
J
Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Military Health Sciences UO, University of Defence, Trebesska 1575, 50001 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. bajgar@pmfhk.cz
Hajek
Petr
P
Slizova
Dasa
D
Krs
Otakar
O
Fusek
Josef
J
Kuca
Kamil
K
Jun
Daniel
D
Bartosova
Lucie
L
Blaha
Vaclav
V
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012524:Sarin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D012999:Soman / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity
D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D012999:Soman; D012524:Sarin; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase