Di-isopropyl-fluorophosphate (DFP): acute toxicity and sleep

Acute administration of the organophosphate diisopropyl-fluorophosphate (DFP) produces behavioral and physiological symptoms indicative of excessive cholinergic stimulation. This behavioral toxicity was found to be incompatible with the occurrence of sleep, despite the fact that chronic administration of DFP has been shown to increase the rapid eye movement stage of sleep. DFP was found to decrease all stages of sleep and to increase wakefulness in a dose-dependent manner. Atropine sulfate, at doses of 3.0 mg/kg, was ineffective in blocking the DFP effects upon sleep.