The Effects of Pyridostigmine and Physostigmine on the Cholinergic Synapse

Abstract

Neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) from diaphragm, soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles of male albino rats were assessed for morphological alterations following acute exposure (30 minutes) by single subcutaneous injections of pyridostigmine bromide (0.36 to 1.0 milligrams/kilogram) and following subacute exposure (2-14 days) by subcutaneously implanted osmotic minipumps that contained 10 milligrams/millimeters of pyridostigmine. Recovery processes were monitored up to 60 days. Drug exposure resulted in pre-and postsynaptic alterations. These included partial withdrawal of the nerve terminals from junctional folds, disruption of the myofibrillar organization and damage to membrane-bound organelles. These lesions were observed as independent occurrences in some NMJs but were present concurrently in other fibers. The extent of the pathology was dose-dependent. Keywords: Pyridostigmine, Carbamate, Acute toxicity, Chronic toxicity, Neuromuscular, ChE, Anticholinesterase drug.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1985
Accession Number
ADA223646

Entities

People

  • C. S. Hudson

Organizations

  • University of Maryland School of Medicine

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Blood
  • Cells
  • Classification
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Laboratory Animals
  • Medical Personnel
  • Membranes
  • Muscle Cells
  • Muscle Fibers
  • Organelles
  • Pathology
  • Peripheral Nervous System
  • Poisoning
  • Rodents
  • Skeletal Muscle
  • Synapses
  • Tissues

Readers

  • Neurotoxicology
  • Toxicology/Environmental Toxicology