Cholinesterase inhibitors and stress: effects on brain muscarinic receptor density in mice.

Exposure to the reversible cholinesterase inhibitor, pyridostigmine bromide (PB), in conjunction with stress, has been suggested as a possible cause of Gulf War Syndrome. This work explores the hypothesis that PB exposure coupled with stress will alter cholinergic receptor density based on the rationale that prolonged exposure to PB and stress will lead to increased stimulation of cholinergic receptors due to the reduced capacity to degrade acetylcholine, leading to changes in receptor levels. Male C57Bl6 mice were exposed to PB (3 or 10 mg/kg/day) or physostigmine (2.

A murine model for sarin exposure using the carboxylesterase inhibitor CBDP.

Sub-lethal exposure to sarin (GB), a potent chemical warfare agent, produces long-term neurological deficits in both humans and rodents. However, rodents express much higher levels of carboxylesterase (CaE) than humans and require a much higher dose of GB in rodents to produce neurotoxicity. In mice, the combination of the carboxylesterase inhibitor 2-(o-cresyl)-4H-1:3:2-benzodioxaphosphorin-2-oxide (CBDP) with the organophosphorus (OP) nerve agent GB renders mice more sensitive to OP poisoning.

Delayed behavioral and endocrine effects of sarin and stress exposure in mice.

The organophosphorus agent sarin is a potent inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase. Experiments tested the influence of exposure to low doses of sarin along with psychological stress on delayed behavioral and endocrine changes in mice. Motor activity, acoustic startle response (ASR), pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) of ASR, activity of cholinesterase in blood and catecholamine levels in adrenals were evaluated after low dose sarin exposure (3 x 0.

Behavioral changes after acetylcholinesterase inhibition with physostigmine in mice.

The effect of the central and peripheral acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, physostigmine (PHY), was examined on spatial memory using a water maze, motor activity as well as acoustic startle response (ASR) and prepulse inhibition (PPI) in C57BL/6J mice. PHY was administered intraperitoneally (IP) at doses of 0.0, 0.

Effect of chronic pyridostigmine bromide treatment on cardiovascular and behavioral parameters in mice.

Experiments were performed to determine the effect of chronic low-dose pyridostigmine bromide (PB) treatment on blood acetylcholinesterase (AChE), cardiovascular (CV) function, and behavior in C57BL/6J male mice. Chronic carotid arterial catheters were used for long-term CV measurements and for collection of blood samples. Separate groups of mice were used for behavioral open field tests.

Intracellular magnesium and magnesium buffering.

The development of new techniques for measuring intracellular free Mg2+ during the 1980s has provided investigators with the tools needed to produce new insights into the regulation of cellular magnesium. Within the limits of this technology, it appears that all mammalian cells maintain free cytosolic Mg2+ levels within the fairly narrow range of 0.25-1 mM.