Centrally mediated seizures are one of the toxic signs that occur following poisoning with a very toxic organophosphate (OP) soman (pinacolyl methyl phosphonofluoridate). They are belived to be primarily due to hyperactivity of the cholinergic system as a result of decreased acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7) activity and increased endogenous acetylcholine (ACh) level at central neuronal synapses.
This convulsive activity creates a problem for medical management and, if uncontrolled, can lead to brain damage. A combined regimen of prophylaxis and therapy, consisting of pretreatment with pyridostygmine and treatment with atropine and oxime (mostly HI-6), is now generally agreed to be the most effective medical countermeasure for dealing with these poisonings (Dunn and Sidell, 1989; Moore et al., 1995)....

Keywords: Nerve agents; toxicology