[Comparison of the reactivating effect of BI-6, a new asymmetrical bispyridinium oxime, with oxime HI-6 and obidoxime on soman-inhibited acetylcholinesterase in the diaphragm and various parts of the brain in rats].

BACKGROUND

Acute poisoning with the highly toxic organophosphorus agent, soman, is not treated satisfactorily even by the most modern antidotes.

METHODS AND

RESULTS

In experiments on rats, the reactivating effect of a new asymmetric bispyridinium oxime BI-6 was compared with widely used oximes HI-6 and obidoxime by investigating the changes of soman-inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity in the diaphragm and various parts of the brain in rats up to three hours following soman challenge. Our findings confirm that the new oxime BI-6 is a more effective reactivator of soman-inhibited acetylcholinesterase than obidoxime but not as effective as the oxime HI-6 especially in the peripheral compartment.

CONCLUSIONS

The new oxime BI-6 is not as effective as HI-6 which seems to have definite advantages over other oximes in the treatment of soman poisoning.