Changes in the Behavioural Characteristics and Brain Acetylcholinesterase Activity of Rats Recovering from GD Poisoning
Abstract
It has previously been noted that guinea pigs protected against many times the lethal dose of GD by pre-treatment with a carbamate, supported by atropine therapy, has virtually no measurable acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain although the animals appeared normal. The object of the present investigation was to establish whether animals surviving poisoning by GD were normal, mentally and physically. Since behavioural studies cannot be done with guinea pigs, a dose schedule was devised to protect rats (which are resistant to organophosphate poisoning and also resistant to therapy for that poisoning) against GD poisoning. The animals retained about 10% of the brain acetylcholinesterase activity 24 hours after poisoning. Significant change in the behaviour of the animals was observed 48 and 96 hours after poisoning. The rats appeared to be fully recovered 14 days after poisoning. The regeneration of brain acetylcholinesterase activity to within the normal limits occurred within 6 to 8 weeks. Plasma and erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase activity, which was depressed to a similar extent to brain 24 hours after poisoning recovered very much more rapidly. The implications of these results are discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1974
- Accession Number
- ADC950071
Entities
People
- D. A. Buxton
- J. J. Gordon
- L. Leadbeater