Protective effect of diazepam pretreatment on soman-induced brain lesion formation

Histopathological analyses of brains of rats receiving a single 0.9 LD50 injection of soman, a potent anticholinesterase neurotoxin, revealed massive widespread lesions in the cerebral cortex and thalamus 4 weeks post-injection. Such lesions were not evidenced in rats receiving diazepam (2.2 mg/kg, i.m.) 10 min prior to soman treatment. Thus, anticonvulsant antidotes may aid in preventing extensive or permanent brain damage in rats surviving near-lethal soman dosages.