Nicotinic Antagonists in the Treatment of Nerve Agent Intoxication

Nicotinic antagonists in the treatment of nerve agent intoxication.

Organophosphorus (OP) nerve agents are potent inhibitors of human acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. Although some OPs may induce delayed toxic effects on muscle and nerve,1 it is the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase that accounts for the acute life-threatening toxicity of soman, sarin, VX, tabun and similar OP compounds. This acute toxicity, which arises from the uncontrolled ac...

Treatment and Prophylaxis of Nerve Agent/ Organophosphates Intoxication

Basic mechanism of action of organophosphates (OP)/nerve agents is based on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition and subsequent accumulation of neuromediator acetylcholine at the cholinergic synapses, either peripheral or central, causing cholinergic hyperstimulation and development of symptoms of poisoning, followed by metabolic dysbalance and, without eff ective prophylaxis/treatment leadin...

Laboratory examination in nerve agent intoxication.

Diagnosis of nerve agent intoxication is based on anamnestic data, clinical signs and laboratory examination. For acute poisoning, cholinesterase activity in the blood (erythrocyte AChE, plasma/serum BuChE) is sensitive, simple and most frequent laboratory examination performed in biochemical laboratories. Specialized examinations to precise treatment (reactivation test) or to make retrospectiv...

Nicotinic Receptor Antagonists in the Treatment of Neuropharmacological Disorders

The effect of CCK receptor agonists and antagonists in sciatic nerve-ligated mice

The effects of caerulin, a CCK receptor agonist, and proglumide, a receptor antagonist, on hyperalgesia induced by sciatic nerve ligation, was studied in mice. Tolerance to the morphine response was obtained 3,7, 14,21 and 28 days after unilateral sciatic nerve ligation. Maximum hyperalgesia was found 14 days after nerve ligation. Caerulin increased morphine antinociception in nerve-ligated ani...