Anticholinesterase action of organophosphates: importance of the liver.

Acetylcholinesterase activity in the blood, pontomedullar area, basal ganglia of the brain and diaphragm following sublethal soman (i.m., 31 micrograms/kg) and 2-dimethylaminoethyl-(dimethylamido)-fluorophosphate (GV) poisoning (i.m., 6 micrograms/kg) was studied in groups of rats (n = 6) pretreated as follows: intact, hepatectomized, sham-operated and narcotized animals. Except hepatectomized rats, all animals in the groups survived; in hepatectomized rats, 2 animals died following soman poisoning. Acetylcholinesterase activity was decreased in each group. The highest and significant (p < 0.05-0.0001) decrease of this activity in the pontomedullar area and diaphragm following hepatectomy was demonstrated. The results indicate that undiminished liver functional capacity is an important factor influencing soman and GV anticholinesterase action.