DIISOPROPYL PHOSPHOROFLUORIDATE (DFP) TREATMENT ALTERS CALCIUM-ACTIVATED PROTEINASE ACTIVITY AND CYTOSKELETAL PROTEINS OF THE HEN SCIATIC-NERVE

Diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate (DFP) produces delayed neurotoxicity ( OPIDN) in hens that is characterized by peripheral and central axonal degeneration. DFP administration resulted in mCANP activity inhibition in sciatic nerve and significant decrease in total NF-H, phosphorylat ed NF-H, vimentin, GFAP, tubulin, and tau. The degradation of cytoskel etal proteins even in the presence of decreased CANP activity may be a scribed to the release of intracellular Ca2+, elevation of other prote inase activity, or modification of cytoskeletal proteins resulting in their increased susceptibility in OPIDN.