Research findings recently published in the journal of Neurotoxicology and Teratology show a promising drug candidate to improve recovery from exposure to Soman, an extremely toxic nerve agent that inhibits the cholinesterase enzyme.
Caramiphen, an anticholinergic used in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease, has antiglutamatergic properties via interactions at the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and anticonvulsant effects through the facilitation of gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) inhibition in the basolateral amygdala part of the brain.
These characteristics of Caramiphen reduce seizure duration, body weight loss, motor and cognitive deficits, and brain damage frpm Soman exposure compared to standard therapy alone.
The research was sponsored by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and conducted by the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD).
The researchers at USAMRICD, managed by DTRA’s Dr. Allen Duplantier, found that caramiphen edisylate administered to rats 30 minutes after seizure onset from Soman exposure worked effectively as an adjunct treatment to the standard therapy of atropine sulfate, oxime (HI-6), and diazepam.
These findings suggest that drug therapies with a combination of anticholinergic, NMDA antagonistic, and GABA enhancing effects might improve the long-term outcome following exposure to a seizure-inducing dose of Soman when added to the post nerve agent exposure regimen used on the battlefield.
Read more at the journal of Neurotoxicology and Teratology: Caramiphen edisylate as adjunct to standard therapy attenuates soman-induced seizures and cognitive deficits in rats.
Source: JSTO in the News, adapted.
