GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ACTIVITIES OF MOUSE ESTERASE AND SENSITIVITIES TO DFP AND SARIN TOXICITY

1. Gender differences in the toxicity of diisopropylfluorophosphate (D FP; 4.0 mg/kg) and isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate (sarin; 0.3 mg/ kg) were studied in mice. 2. The animals were killed 3 hr after intrap eritoneal (IP) injection of the organophosphates (OPs). 3. Although th e activity of plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) was two-fold higher and carboxylesterase (CaE) 1.3-fold higher in females than in males, t he elevated BChE and CaE activities did not prevent inhibition of the enzyme by OPs in brain. 4. The differences in plasma BChE and CaE acti vities do not seem to be critical for the detoxification of OPs used i n this study. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.