Hormonal consequences of organophosphate poisoning

The hormonal changes were estimated after poisoning with an extremely toxic organophosphate, soman (pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate). Soman produced a significant (p less than or equal to 0.05) increase in serum corticosterone, thyroxine, and triidothyronine concentrations at 3, 6, and 9 hr after poisoning. However, by 22 hr the levels were not significantly different from control. Plasma ACTH levels were decreased at 3 hr after soman at 100 micrograms/kg but not after 287 micrograms/kg. Serum testosterone levels were decreased significantly (p less than or equal to 0.01) 6 and 9 hr after soman poisoning but had returned to control levels by 22 hr. Soman (100 micrograms/kg) produced an immunosuppressive response when administered at 24 hr after an antigen (sheep red blood cells). However, a similar response was obtained in adrenalectomized mice suggesting that some other mechanism other than elevated corticosterone was responsible for the immunosuppressive effect. Soman poisoning produced an intense hypothermia. It is possible that the hormonal changes noted after soman poisoning are due to a reduction in metabolism and excretion, a result of the hypothermia and not a direct action of soman.