THE EFFECTS OF DIISOPROPYLPHOSPHOROFLUORIDATE (DFP) ON THE GANGLIOSIDE PROFILE IN THE CHICKEN (GALLUS-DOMESTICUS) HINDBRAIN

The ameliorative effect(s) of exogenous gangliosides on the developmen t of organophosphorus ester-induced delayed neurotoxicity (OPIDN) sugg ests that administration of an organophosphorus delayed neurotoxicant could alter the endogenous ganglioside composition of nervous system t issue. To investigate this possibility, White Leghorn hens were inject ed subcutaneously with diisopropylphosphorofluoridate (DFP) at a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight and hindbrains (cerebella and brainstems) were removed for analysis of ganglioside concentrations at 4, 7, 14, or 21 days post-dosing. Treatment with DFP resulted in an increase in the pr oportion of GQ1b from day 4 to day 21 post-dosing which was significan tly (p < 0.05) different from the control value at day 21. The proport ion of GT1b increased in a similar manner over the 21 day period while the proportion of GD3 decreased over time. These progressive changes in ganglioside composition paralleled increasing hindlimb ataxia chara cteristic of OPIDN. In addition, the concentrations of protein, total lipid, total cholesterol, and lipid phosphorus in the chicken hindbrai n were not affected by administration of DFP, indicating that the chan ges in ganglioside concentrations were not due to a non-specific effec t on lipids. (C) 1995 Intox Press, Inc.