EFFECT OF PANPAL PRETREATMENT AND ANTIDOTAL TREATMENT (HI-6 PLUS BENACTYZINE) ON RESPIRATORY AND CIRCULATORY FUNCTION IN SOMAN-POISONED RATS

1 The effect of pharmacological pretreatment (pyridostigmine, benactyz ine and trihexyphenidyle), designated Panpal, and antidotal treatment (the oxime HI-6 plus benactyzine) in soman poisoning was investigated in a rat model with on-line monitoring of respiratory and circulatory parameters. 2 Soman poisoning caused a high decrease in respiratory ra te as well as minute respiratory volume and an increase in mean arteri al pressure from 30-120 min following soman challenge. Soman at sublet hal dose also significantly inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity in diaphragm and various brain parts. 3 Panpal pretreatment as well as a ntidotal treatment were effective in improving the respiratory and cir culatory function disturbed by soman without the ability to increase s ignificantly soman-inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity in all brai n parts studied. 4 The efficacy of combined Panpal pretreatment and an tidotal treatment against sublethal soman poisoning was not different from the efficacy of Panpal pretreatment or antidotal treatment alone. 5 The results of this investigation suggest that Panpal pretreatment as well as antidotal treatment are able to restore respiratory and cir culatory function in soman-poisoned rats without significant reactivat ion of brain acetylcholinesterase.