Behavioral effects of toxic doses of soman, an organophosphate cholinesterase inhibitor, in the rat: protection afforded by clonidine.

Atropine, a postsynaptic muscarinic antagonist, and clonidine, a presynaptic inhibitor of acetylcholine release, protect mice from the lethal effects of soman, a potent and irreversible cholinesterase inhibitor. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of atropine (6 mg/kg) and clonidine (0.2 mg/kg) on soman-induced lethality and behavioral changes in the rat. Soman produced a dose-dependent increase in lethality over a narrow concentration range (50-200 micrograms/kg, SC). Soman produced time- and dose-dependent increases in tremor, salivation, hind limb extension, convulsions and chewing behaviors, as well as decreases in three normal stereotyped behaviors, sniffing, locomotion and rearing. Atropine and clonidine were equally effective at limiting soman-induced lethality and behavioral changes. The protective effects of clonidine and atropine were synergistic, even though clonidine antagonizes some of the stereotyped behaviors elicited by atropine. Simultaneous pretreatment with clonidine and atropine completely eliminated the lethality and behavioral changes produced by injection of 200 micrograms/kg soman.