Behavioral effects of nerve agents

II. THE METHODS USED TO EVALUATE BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS OF NERVE AGENTS... 

Hartgraves, S.L., Murphy, M.R. (1992). Behavioral effects of nerve agents. In Chemical Warfare Agents (S. Somani, ed.). Academic Press, New York. 

This cluster of CNS and behavioral effects of nerve agents is consistent with what is known about the role of acetylcholine and cholinergic neurons within the brain. Central cholinergic circuits are involved in both cognition and short-term... 

It should be further noted that the effects of nerve agents on GABAergic transmission in the CNS may have imph-cations for behavioral effects in laboratory animals and humans, and may also contribute to the induction of convulsions at higher doses (Bakshi et al, 2000). Nevertheless, given the present undefined application of non-cholinergic data to whole-body estimations, reliance on the primary assumption of AChE action is consistent with recognized opinion (Bakshi et al, 2000). 

IV. CHRONIC BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS OF SINGLE OR REPEATED LOW-LEVEL EXPOSURE TO NERVE AGENTS... 

Although there is a lack of information on the general toxicological effects of low-level, and suble-thal repeated exposures, there are studies on the behavioral effects of such exposures to nerve agents in animals free of observed signs of intoxication. These were conducted in an effort to determine whether behavioral studies can provide markers of early neurotoxicity that are more sensitive than neurochemical and neuropathological changes. 

Small doses of nerve agents in animals can produce tolerance in additional to their classical cholinergic effects. In rats, acute administration of nerve agents in subconvulsive doses produced tumors and hind-limb adduction. In animals, nerve agents can also cause behavioral as well as cardiac effects. 

Behavioral Effects of Scavenger and Nerve Agent Exposure... 

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