© 1991 Oxford University Press
research-article |
Variable Effects of Soman on Macromolecular Secretion by Ferret Trachea1,2
Departments of Medicine and Dental Research, and Environmental Health Sciences Center, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry Rochester, New York 14642
Received December 14, 1989; accepted August 15, 1990
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the anticholinesterase agent, soman, on macromolecular secretion by ferret trachea, in vitro We mounted pieces of ferret trachea in Ussing-type chambers. Secreted sulfated macro-molecules were radiolabeled by adding 500 µCi of 33SO4 to the submucosal medium and incubating for 17 hr. Soman added to the submucosal side produced a concentration-dependent increase in radiolabeled macromolecular release with a maximal secretory response (mean ± SD) of 202 ± 125% (n = 8) relative to the basal secretion rate at a concentration of 107 m. The addition of either 106 M pralidoxime (acetyicholinesterase reactivator) or 107 M atropine blocked the response to 107 m soman. At soman concentrations greater than 107 M, secretion rate decreased and was not significantly different from basal secretion. Additional experiments utilizing acetylcholine and the acetyicholinesterase inhibitor, physostigmine, suggest that inhibition of secretion by high concentrations of soman may be due to a secondary antagonistic effect of soman on muscannic receptors.