The acute toxicity of sarin in marmosets (Callithrix jacchus): a behavioral analysis.

In marmosets, the clinical signs of poisoning following the administration of sarin and the effects of sarin upon performance in three behavioral test models were investigated. The sensitivity of marmosets to the lethal action of sarin was shown to be greater than that of rodent species and rabbits but very similar to that of the rhesus monkey. Doses of sarin ranging from 33 to 55% LD50, resulting in erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase inhibitions of 88% or more, were shown to disrupt the performance of a food-reinforced visually guided reaching response. However, the pattern of disruption did not suggest a specific action of sarin upon visuomotor coordination and could not be explained on the basis of an indirect effect of this agent upon either feeding motivation or changes in gross mobility. It was suggested that possible changes in animals' perception of the reaching task and/or their own drugged ability may be relevant to any interpretation of sarin-induced changes in visuomotor coordination in this species.