EFFICACY OF PRO-PAM (N-METHYL-1,6-DIHYDROPYRIDINE-2-CARBALDOXIME HYDROCHLORIDE) AS A PROPHYLAXIS AGAINST ORGANOPHOSPHATE POISONING

The efficacy of Pro-PAM (N-methyl-1,6-dihydropyridine-2-carbaldoxime hydrochloride) was compared to pyridine-2-aldoxime chloride (PAM) as a prophylaxis against organophosphate poisoning in mice and guinea pigs. Pro-PAM was generally less toxic than PAM in mice and pH of the vehicle did not appear to alter the toxicity of Pro-PAM. Pro-PAM alone and combined with atropine improved the protective ratio (PR) against DFP and sarin in mice, whereas it improved very slightly the PR against soman in guinea pigs. The PR obtained with Pro-PAM combined with carbamate prophylaxis and atropine therapy versus soman poisoning was inferior to that obtained with PAM. In most cases Pro-PAM and atropine prophylaxis produced higher brain AChE activity than PAM and atropine; however, there was no correlation between brain acetylcholinesterase activity and survival. Pro-PAM was not a significant improvement over PAM with regard to prophylaxis against organophosphorus poisoning. © 1979.