Peripheral biochemical marker for organophosphate-induced delayed neurotoxicity.

Neurotoxicesterase (NTE) activity was assayed in platelets of human and mice as well as in the brain of mice in vitro and in vivo. Mipafox, a well known organophosphate, to induce delayed neurotoxicity, at doses of 5, 10 and 15 mg/kg, subcutaneously, was used to examine the relationship between inhibition of brain and platelet NTE activity in mice. It was observed that the platelet NTE activity of mice was less than in humans. The optimum pH for both brain and platelet NTE of mice, and human platelets, was 8. The results indicate that mipafox produces a dose dependent inhibition of brain and platelet NTE activity in vivo and concentration dependent inhibition in vitro. It can be concluded that assay of platelet NTE can be a useful peripheral biochemical marker for organophosphate-induced delayed neurotoxicity.