Title
Effects of low doses of cholinesterase inhibitors on behavioral performance of robot-tested marmosets
Author
Prins Maurits Laboratorium TNO
Wolthuis, O.L.
Groen, B.
Busker, R.W.
van Helden, H.P.M.
Publication year
1995
Abstract
To investigate at which dose levels undesirable effects started, behavioural performance and several physiological parameters were measured in marmosets (Callithrix Jacchus) after soman (1.75 and 3.5 μg/kg), sarin (3 and 6 μg/kg), physostigmine (10 and 20 μg/kg), and pyridostigmine (200 and 400 μg/kg). Effects on performance were investigated with a discrete-trial, two-choice visual discrimination task and a hand-eye coordination task. The former test appeared more sensitive to disruption than the hand-eye coordination task. 'Motor speed' was not disrupted by any of the four compounds. However, 'choice time' as well as 'no attempts' increased and were clearly more disturbed by soman and physostigmine than by sarin and pyridostigmine. All effects had disappeared after 24 h. Except for a small effect of sarin on heart rate and blood pressure, none of the cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitors affected a number of physiological parameters at behavioural effective doses that caused a profound ChE inhibition in blood. Take together, these results strongly suggest that both soman and physostigmine may interfere with higher CNS functions at low dose levels. These effects may go undetected because physical signs are absent.
Subject
Carbamates
Marmosets
Organophosphates
Performance
Pretreatment
Acetylcholinesterase
Cholinesterase inhibitor
Pyridostigmine
Sarin
Soman
Animal experiment
Behavior
Blood pressure
Enzyme inhibition
Female
Heart rate
Male
Motivation
Motor coordination
Nonhuman
Robotics
Task performance
Visual discrimination
Animal
Discrimination (Psychology)
Motor Skills
Photic Stimulation
Reaction time
Sex characteristics
Callithrix jacchus
Organic phosphates
GD agent
GB agent
Animal physiology
Cholinesterases, EC 3.1.1.8
Physostigmine, 57-47-6
Soman, 96-64-0
2015 Observation, Weapon & Protection Systems
CBRN - CBRN Protection
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/0091-3057(95)00006-i
TNO identifier
124324
ISSN
0091-3057
Source
Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 51 (51), 443-456
Document type
article