Microchemical studies of the pathogenesis of soman toxication and atropine-oxime treatment using nucleic acid cytophotometry (cytophotometric analyses of non-cholinergic mediated effects of soman toxication in rats). Annual summary report, 15 August 1981-14 September 1983
Quantitative cytochemical analyses, using microscopic histochemical staining and scanning-integrating microdensitometry, were made of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), protein, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) changes in central and peripheral tissue compartments of rats exposed to soman with and without various regimens of atropine-pralidoxime treatment. Hypoxia-acclimated rats were also used to evaluate the relationship between increased vascularization of tissues and susceptibility of rats to soman toxication. It was found that a critical aspect of soman toxicity is an impairment in RNA-protein synthetic capacity of neurons in various brain regions; this is not directly correlated with the extent of blood or brain AChE suppression, indicating the involvement of non-cholinergic mechanisms. Additional aspects of soman intoxication include cytochemical-cytomorphologic manifestations of hepatoxicity and mesenteric mast cell degranulation. Various antidotal regimens and also prior acclimation of rats to hypoxia tend to ameliorate the severity of brain RNA depletion. Among the putative noncholinergic mechanisms which could precipitate the observed nucleic acid response patterns are included the disruption of excitatory-inhibitory neurotransmitter functioning coupled with a stress-mediated impairment in CNS-endocrine homeostatic mechanisms.
- Research Organization:
- Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States). Dept. of Biology
- OSTI ID:
- 544422
- Report Number(s):
- AD-B--094345/6/XAB; CNN: Contract DAMD17-81-C-1202
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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