Soman applied i.m. at doses corresponding to 20% Or 60% Of LD₅₀ did not induce DNA breaks, but only endonuclease III sensitive sites (representing oxidised pyrimidines or abasic sites) in the DNA of lymphocytes and liver cells of male MNRI mice and Chinese hamsters. Significant amount of micronuclei was induced also in polychromatophilic erythrocytes in bone marrow. Neither of these effects was found after application of same doses of sarin related to its toxicity in vivo. Intramuscular application of 2% or 20% LD₅₀ HI-6 oxime induced single strand DNA breaks and endonuclease III sensitive sites. Micronuclei were induced as well. Results suggest that HI—6 oxime might be mildly genotoxic. Oxidative DNA damage might be induced by soman.

Keywords: Soman; oxime HI-6; toxicology