Inhibition of blood and tissue cholinesterases by soman in guinea pigs in vivo

SummaryGuinea pigs were intoxicated intramuscularly with different doses of soman, and cholinesterase activities were determined in the blood, diaphragm and parts of the brain – the pontomedullar area, the frontal cortex and the basal ganglia. The time course of poisoning following low doses (1,3, 5 μg/kg) and a dose equal to 1×LD50 (28.5 μg/kg) were studied. The dose having a negligible effect on cholinesterases in the tissues studied was assessed at 1–3 μg/kg, and, following administration of a dose of 5 μg/kg, statistically significant blood cholinesterase inhibition was demonstrated.