Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 66, Issue 3 1390-1396, Copyright © 1989 by American Physiological Society
Effects of soman and its antidotes on tracheal mucociliary transport of ferrets
M. G. Marin, D. Zwierzynski, R. K. McBride and D. J. Culp
Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York 14642.
The purpose of this study was to examine the role of acetylcholinesterase
on mucociliary transport by use of a potent anticholinesterase agent,
soman, and potential antagonists, atropine (muscarinic antagonist) and
pralidoxime (acetylcholinesterase reactivator). Initial measurements of
mucociliary transport rate were obtained in anesthetized ferrets at 30-min
intervals for 5.5 h. These rates remained constant at a mean of 18.2 +/-
1.0 (SE) mm/min. We studied the effects of intravenously administered soman
(1-8 micrograms/kg) and observed a dose-related change in the rate of
mucociliary transport [-1.1 +/- 2.7 (SE) mm/min after 1 microgram/kg, 9.8
+/- 2.9 mm/min after 5 micrograms/kg, and 14.4 +/- 4.3 mm/min after 8
micrograms/kg of soman]. Pretreatment with atropine completely prevented
the response to soman, whereas pretreatment with pralidoxime did not
significantly alter the response. We postulate that soman's effect on
mucociliary transport relates directly to its cholinergic activity. Failure
of pralidoxime to inhibit the effects of soman may relate to pralidoxime's
inability to reactivate acetylcholinesterase successfully.
