Received for publication September 29, 2008.
Revised October 30, 2008.
Accepted for publication October 30, 2008.

Acute toxicity of organophosphorus compounds in guinea pigs is sex and age dependent and cannot be solely accounted for by acetylcholinesterase inhibition

Abstract

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that the acute toxicity of the nerve agents VX, soman and sarin in guinea pigs is age and sex dependent and cannot be fully accounted for by the irreversible inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The subcutaneous doses of nerve agents needed to decrease 24-h survival of guinea pigs by 50% (LD50s) were estimated by probit analysis. In all animal groups, the rank order of LD50s was sarin > soman > VX. The LD50 of soman was not influenced by sex or age of the animals. In contrast, the LD50s of VX and sarin were lower in adult male than in age-matched female or younger guinea pigs. A colorimetric assay was used to determine the concentrations of nerve agents that inhibit in vitro 50% of AChE activity (IC50s) in guinea pig brain extracts, plasma, red blood cell and whole blood. A positive correlation between LD50s and IC50s for AChE inhibition would support the hypothesis that AChE inhibition is a major determinant of the acute toxicity of the nerve agents. However, such a positive correlation was found only between LD50s and IC50s for AChE inhibition in brain extracts from neonatal and prepubertal guinea pigs. These results demonstrate for the first time that the lethal potencies of some nerve agents in guinea pigs are age and sex dependent. They also support the contention that mechanisms other than AChE inhibition contribute to the lethality of nerve agents.

Key words: Acetylcholinesterase, Guinea pigs, LD50, Sarin, Soman, VX