Assessment of a combination of physostigmine and scopolamine as pretreatment against the behavioural effects of organophosphates in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

N. G. Muggleton, A. P. Bowditch, H. S. Crofts, E. A.M. Scott, P. C. Pearce

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

Rationale: There is a requirement to ensure that UK armed forces are provided with the best possible medical countermeasures to prevent or mitigate the effects of exposure to nerve agents. When pretreatments are under consideration, it is of particular importance to ensure that they do not in themselves give rise to adverse effects and do not exacerbate the effects of agent exposure. Objectives: The present study was designed to address these considerations for a combination of physostigmine and scopolamine as a potential pretreatment regimen. Methods: Common marmosets were trained to perform a two-choice discrimination serial reversal task, and baseline data were collected. Subjects received a dose of either soman or sarin after 2 weeks of pretreatment with either saline or physostigmine and scopolamine via miniosmotic pump. Results: No effects of physostigmine and scopolamine were seen on task accuracy or response rates. Neither accuracy of reversal performance nor number of responses made were significantly changed by administration of either soman or satin subsequent to pretreatment with physostigmine/scopolamine. In the groups pretreated with saline, performance of the behavioural task, in terms of responses made, was virtually abolished on the day the OP was administered, but a significant increase in accuracy of performance was seen over the 2- to 14-day period following administration. Conclusions: A combination of physostigmine and scopolamine, which is known to protect against nerve-agent lethality, offers protection against the effects of soman and satin on behavioural performance, as measured by a discrimination reversal task. The improved performance observed following nerve agent requires further investigation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)212-220
Number of pages9
JournalPsychopharmacology
Volume166
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2003

Keywords

  • Discrimination
  • Marmoset
  • Organophosphate
  • Physostigmine
  • Pretreatment
  • Reversal
  • Sarin
  • Scopolamine
  • Soman

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Assessment of a combination of physostigmine and scopolamine as pretreatment against the behavioural effects of organophosphates in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this