Pharmacological and toxicological considerations in the treatment of carbamate intoxications.
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Dichlorvos (dimethyl 2,2-dichlorovinyl phosphate) was administered orally to German Shorthair Pointer dogs at approximately 60 mg/kg (twice the usual clinical dose). Plasma and erythrocyte cholinesterase (ChE) was monitored prior to, 90 min, and 180 min post-ingestion. 2-PAM (20 mg/kg IV) and atropine sulfate (0.022 mg/kg IM) were administered 90 min after the dichlorvos to paired treated and control dogs. The telemetered electrocardiographic (ECG) signal was analyzed by a Vagal Tone Monitor (VTM) to yield mean heart period (msec) and an estimate of the amplitude of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (V in natural log values of msec2) for five min intervals. Dichlorvos did not cause cholinomimetic symptoms even though blood cholinesterase was significantly inhibited (plasma -51.3% and erythrocyte -43.7%). The atropine sulfate treatment resulted in the expected vagolytic effects in both the control and the dichlorvos treated dogs, but the atropine effects were attenuated in the latter dogs. Three weeks later, ChE activity was not significantly depressed in the dichlorvos treated dogs, and their V responses to atropine were more similar to the responses in control dogs.
In an effort to validate methods to be used in a screen for drugs effective as anticonvulsants for soman-induced convulsions, scopolamine (0.2 mg/kg) or diazepam (1 mg/kg) were given (i.m.) to male guinea pigs as a pretreatment 30 min before a convulsant dose of soman. Pyridostigmine, atropine and pralidoxime chloride also were given to counteract the lethality of soman. All animals challenged with soman and which did not receive either diazepam or scopolamine exhibited convulsive status epilepticus (SE), identified by continuous electrographic seizure activity (EGSA) and continuous motor convulsions. Despite the presence of continuous motor convulsions in all animals pretreated with diazepam and challenged with soman, EGSA was not observed in five of the seven animals. Continuous motor convulsions developed in four of seven animals pretreated with scopolamine and challenged with soman, but EGSA was not observed in any scopolamine-pretreated guinea pig. Neuronal necrosis was observed in the hippocampus, thalamus, amygdala, and cerebral and pyriform cortices in each animal with EGSA, but not brain damage was found in subjects without EGSA. Thus, although convulsions, EGSA and brain damage normally occur together in animals exposed to soman, the convulsions can be pharmacologically dissociated from the EGSA and brain damage, demonstrating that the clinically manifested convulsions are not dependent on EGSA recorded from the cortex or on abnormal activity which leads to neuronal necrosis in the forebrain.
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The acute toxicity of fonofos and phosphamidon on three age classes of Artemia salina was evaluated. An increase in toxicity of these organophosphorous (OP) insecticides was found following longer development of A. salina. The effects of pretreatment with the nonselective muscarinic antagonist atropine, the two reversible acetylcholinesterease inhibitors physostigmine and pyridostigmine, and the cholinesterase-reactivating oxime 2-pyridine aldoxime methoiodide (2-PAM), as individual and combined pretreatments, on OP-induced lethality in 24 h Artemia were also investigated. The lethal action of both OP insecticides was prevented by pretreatment of 24 h Artemia with atropine and 2-PAM, while physostigmine proved ineffective against intoxication with both OP insecticides and pyridostigmine exhibited a low synergic effect. In both cases, the inhibitory effects of combinations of atropine (10(-5)M) plus 2-PAM were greater than those elicited by either drug alone, with the maximum protection afforded being 100%. Combined pretreatment of atropine (10(-5)M) plus physostigmine practically abolished the lethal effects induced by both insecticides. Pretreatment with 2-PAM (10(-6)M) plus physostigmine afforded maximal protection of 100% and 76% on the lethality induced by fonofos and phosphamidon, respectively. The data obtained suggest that the combination of atropine plus 2-PAM or physostigmine and the combined pretreatment of 2-PAM plus physostigmine are effective in the prevention of the lethal effects induced by fonofos and phosphamidon in A. salina larvae.
In this study, the non-reactivating effects of oximes in the hippocampus of the rat are investigated. The potassium (51 mM) evoked release of [(3)H]-acetylcholine and the liberation of [(3)H]-choline were determined in hippocampal slices following in vitro exposure to soman and five oximes (toxogonin, HI-6, HLö-7, P2S and 2-PAM) in separate experiments by superfusion. In the absence of soman, toxogonin and HLö-7 in particular induced a concentration dependent significant increase in the evoked release of [(3)H]-acetylcholine. There was also a significant effect of HI-6, but the effect was much smaller. Two pralidoxime salts, P2S (methanesulfonate salt) and 2-PAM (methiodide salt), had similar but lower effects that were only observed at relatively high concentrations. Experiments performed following complete inhibition of the acetylcholinesterase activity by soman (1.0 microM) showed that HI-6 and HLö-7 induced a significant decrease in the potassium-evoked release of [(3)H]-acetylcholine, while the liberation of [(3)H]-choline increased. Toxogonin, P2S and 2-PAM did not reduce significantly the evoked release of [(3)H]-acetylcholine. Only limited reactivation of the acetylcholinesterase activity was observed in superfusion experiments with toxogonin, HI-6, P2S and 2-PAM following exposure of hippocampal slices to soman. However, HLö-7 was proved to be relatively more effective in reactivating the acetylcholinesterase activity at high concentrations (50 and 200 microM). The acetylcholinesterase activity was reactivated to approximately 12% and 40% of control, respectively. It is concluded that HI-6 and HLö-7 have important non-acetylcholinesterase reactivating properties following soman poisoning, as may be seen by the significant reduction in the evoked release of [(3)H]-acetylcholine effected by these oximes. HLö-7 is of particular interest in view of its ability to additionally improve reactivation of the acetylcholinesterase activity.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the benefits of using serial measurements of plasma cholinesterase (butyrylcholinesterase, BuChE) activity in the management of cholinesterase inhibitor insecticidal poisoning. METHOD: After establishing and validating BuChE activity test, and making it available for clinical service in the toxicology laboratory at Jordan University Hospital. Serial measurements of BuChE were performed on samples taken from 10 symptomatic patients presented with the manifestations of poisoning due to acetylcholinesterase inhibitor insecticides during the year 2001. The number of serial repeats of BuChE activity tests ranged from 2 to 4 and from 8 to 11 for patients with carbamates and organophosphates (OPs) poisoning, respectively. The results of serial measurement of BuChE obtained from each patient's samples were used to draw a curve; three different types of curves were obtained from all patients samples. RESULT: The obtained curves were found to follow our three proposed curves, which support our point view regarding the importance of the proposed curves in the differential diagnosis and treatment of cholinesterase inhibitor pesticides poisoning. CONCLUSION: This study pointed out the importance of utilizing serial measurements of BuChE activity in the diagnosis and the management of organophosphates and carbamates poisoning. The BuChE activity results were used to support diagnostic and prognostic criteria that guided patient management and follow up. Applying those curves to large number of patients' samples will enhance its credibility. The study also demonstrated the importance of direct contract between toxicologist and physician in treatment of the pesticides poisoned patients.
Pralidoxime methylsulfate (Contrathion) is widely used to treat organophosphate poisoning. Despite animal and human studies, the usefulness of Contrathion therapy remains a matter of debate. Therapeutic dosage regimens need to be clarified and availability of a reliable method for plasma pralidoxime quantification would be helpful in this process. We here describe a high-performance liquid chromatography technique with electrochemical detection to measure pralidoxime concentrations in human serum using guanosine as an internal standard. The assay was linear between 0.25 and 50 microg mL(-1) with a quantification limit of 0.2 microg mL(-1). The analytical precision was satisfactory, with variation coefficients lower 10%. This assay was applied to the analysis of a serum from an organophosphorate poisoned patient and treated by Contrathion infusions (100 and 200 mg h(-1)) after a loading dose (400 mg).
Pralidoxime methylsulfate (Contrathion) is widely used to treat organophosphate poisoning. For the first time, we developed a specific assay for urinary pralidoxime using capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) in the following conditions: fused-silica capillary (length: 47 cm, internal diameter: 75 microm), electrolyte solution: 25 mM sodium borate (pH 9.1), voltage: 15 kV, temperature: 25 degrees C, injection time: 1 or 2s, on-line UV detection: 280 nm. Sample preparation did not require a deproteinization step (1:5 dilution in water). The method was linear between 0.125 and 2 mg mL-1 of pralidoxime (quantification limit: 0.10 mg mL-1). Coefficients of variation for intra- and inter-assay precision were below 10% for all three control levels (0.15-1.15 mg mL-1). This assay was successfully applied to urine specimens from organophosphate poisoned patients treated by Contrathion (n=10). This CZE method allows the measure of pralidoxime in urine within 15 min with excellent precision, selectivity, and sensitivity. It is simple (no pretreatment) and convenient, thus suitable for the monitoring of Contrathion therapy in organophosphate poisoned patients.
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Due to the current controversy about the real effectiveness of the oximes in the treatment of organophosphate poisoning, the reactivation capacity of pralidoxime has been evaluated in vitro on human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase inhibited by dimethoate. In the in vitro model, a partial recovery of acetylcholinesterase activity was observed with concentrations from 0.066 mM pralidoxime, probably useful enough to prevent death in most cases in vivo. However, much more effectiveness was observed with concentrations up to 0.70 mM pralidoxime. Although pralidoxime should be applied as soon as possible after organophosphate exposure, the application of the antagonist can be useful even 24h after, particularly for organophosphates with biological half-life longer than one day. The protective capacity of pralidoxime after the application was reduced up to 50% in 6h and disappeared almost completely in 24h. Furthermore, the pesticide and its metabolites remained active and were able to inhibit the enzyme as soon as pralidoxime reduced its antagonist capacity. Our results in conjunction with the short half-life of pralidoxime suggest that the maintenance of higher plasmatic concentrations than the currently used should be considered in the management of severe poisoned patients, although adverse effects could be expected.
Growing concern on the problem of mycotoxins in the alimentary chain underlines the need to investigate the mechanisms explaining the cholinergic effects of aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)). We examined the effect of AFB(1), a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus flavus, on mouse brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and specifically on its molecular isoforms (G(1) and G(4)) after in vitro exposure. AFB(1) (from 10(-9) to 10(-4)M), inhibited mouse brain AChE activity (IC(50) = 31.6 x 10(-6)M) and its G(1) and G(4) molecular isoforms in a dose-dependent manner. Michaelis-Menten parameters indicate that the K(m) value increased from 55.2 to 232.2% whereas V(max) decreased by 46.2-75.1%. The direct, the Lineweaver-Burk and the secondary plots indicated a non-competitive-mixed type antagonism, induced when the inhibitor binds to the free enzyme and to the enzyme-substrate complex. AFB(1)-inhibited AChE was partially reactivated by pyridine 2-aldoxime (2-PAM) (10(-4)M) but the AChE-inhibiting time courses of AFB(1) (10(-4)M) and diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) (2 x 10(-7)M) differed. Overall these data suggest that AFB(1) non-competitively inhibits mouse brain AChE by blocking access of the substrate to the active site or by inducing a defective conformational change in the enzyme through non-covalent binding interacting with the AChE peripheral binding site, or through both mechanisms.
Pralidoxime iodide (2-PAM), an antidote approved for the reactivation of inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in organophosphate poisoning, dose-dependently hydrolyzed an acetylthiocholine iodide (ASCh). The AChE (0.3 U) activity inhibited by VX analog (ENMP, 0.1 microM) increased to approximately 200% of normal levels after a dosage of 5 mM 2-PAM (control 0.132+/-0.012 U/ml, 5 mM 0.253+/-0.026 U/ml). This result indicates that 2-PAM produced a thiocholine from the ASCh by hydrolysis. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was then performed to further clarify the hydrolysis of ASCh with 2-PAM. It was clear that 2-PAM was converted to acetylated 2-PAM with acetic acid produced from ASCh by hydrolysis. Next, we tried to compare this esterase-like activity of 2-PAM with that of obidoxime, which is known as a strong reactivator of inhibited AChE, and with diacetylmonoxime, known as a weak reactivator. All of these oximes showed esterase-like activity, and their strengths were consistent with those of known reactivators of inhibited AChE. These results indicate that a great deal of the data obtained previously with ASCh relating to the effects of oximes must be rechecked. It is clear that oximes easily hydrolyze ASCh. We therefore strongly caution that the method of determining AChE activity with ASCh is not suitable for examining the effects of oximes.
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Utility of carboxylesterase and acetylcholinesterase inhibition as pesticide exposure biomarker was studied at Doñana National Park (SW Spain) in crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). Activities were measured in animals from reference sites or potentially exposed to pesticides, and their reactivation studied after dilution or 2-PAM treatment. Crayfish from affected sites had significantly less carboxylesterase and acetylcholinesterase activity than reference ones. No significant differences were found after dilution or 2-PAM treatment, showing that inhibition was irreversible. High pesticide levels were found in water and/or soil at rice growing sites, and lower levels at other affected places. High metal levels existed at rice growing sites and lower at other affected and at both reference sites. A combined effect on esterase inhibition of pesticides and metals is proposed. This field study suggest that the rice growing areas near Guadiamar stream are most polluted, followed by strawberry and citrics growing zones near Partido and Rocina streams. However, no correlation exist between the pesticide concentration at different sites and the extent of esterase inhibition, indicating that other factors could affect esterase response of animals from polluted sites.
A series of pyridinium aldoximes having a sugar conjugated to the pyridine ring has been prepared as potential antidotes against organophosphate poisoning. The sugar residue was attached either directly through C-1 or C-6 of the pyranose ring or through a C3 bridge between the glycosyl group and the nitrogen atom of the pyridine moiety. Attachment of a sugar group to the oxime derivative seems to increase the bioavailability of the antidote. The clearance rate of the sugar conjugates was significantly lower than that of their non-sugar analogs and thus they were retained longer in the blood circulation. The sugar derivatives were more potent in decreasing paraoxon-induced hypothermia (which is regulated within the central nervous system) than N-methyl-2-pyridiniumaldoxime methanesulfonate, one of the most commonly used mono-oximes. The sugar analogs were also less toxic than the non-sugar analogs; some also displayed higher efficacy. The mechanism underlying the improved features of the sugar oximes, and the structural requirements in relation to the sugar attachment to the oxime function, are discussed.
We examined the role of edrophonium in the acceleration phenomenon using mouse wild-type and mutant D74N AChE inhibited with 7-(O,O-diethyl-phosphinyloxy)-1-methylquinolinium methylsulfate (DEPQ). With DEPQ-inhibited wild-type mouse acetylcholinesterase (AChE), the reactivation kinetic profile demonstrated one-phase exponential association only when 2-[hydroxyimino methyl]-1-methylpyridinium chloride (2-PAM) and 1-(2-hydroxy-iminomethyl-1-pyridinium)-1-(4-carboxy-aminopyridi nium)-dimethyl ether hydrochloride (HI-6) were used as reactivators. When 1,1[oxybis-methylene)bis[4-(hydroxyimino)methyl] pyridinium dichloride (LüH6) and 1,1-trimethylene bis(4-hydroxyimino methyl) pyridinium dichloride (TMB4) were used, the reactivation kinetic profile was biphasic in nature. Edrophonium had no effect on reactivation by 2-PAM and HI-6, but significantly accelerated LüH6- and TMB4-induced reactivation of DEPQ-inhibited wild-type mouse AChE. Comparison of the initial and overall reactivation rate constants with five oximes indicated that acceleration by edrophonium may be due to the prevention of re-inhibition of the reactivated enzyme by the phosphorylated oxime (POX) produced during the reactivation. With LüH6 and TMB4, about 2.5-fold increase in the reactivation rate constants was observed in the presence of edrophonium, but little or no effect was observed with the other three oximes. The initial reactivation rate constants were 5.4- and 4.2-fold of the overall rate constants with LüH6 and TMB4 as reactivators respectively, however, very little change was found between the initial and overall rate constants with the other three oximes. In experiments with D74N AChE, for which the inhibition potency of charged organophosphate (OP) was two to three orders less than wild-type enzyme, edrophonium had no effect on the reactivation by LüH6 and TMB4 and the time courses of reactivation were monophasic. The data from mutant enzyme substantiate the involvement of edrophonium in protecting POX re-inhibition of reactivated enzyme formed during the reactivation of OP-inhibited AChE.
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