Sarin induced lung pathology and protection by standard therapy regime

The effects of atropine, diazepam and pralidoxime were studied for their ability to block the pathological lesions induced by sarin. Rats were exposed to an aerosol of sarin at a concentration of 51.2mg.m-3 for 15 min following the pretreatment with one of the following combinations: atropine (10 mg/kg, i.m.) and diazepam (0.5 mg/kg, i.m.); atropine and pralidoxime (25 mg/kg, i.m.); diazepam and pralidoxime; atropine, diazepam and pralidoxime. Lung exposed to sarin aerosols revealed an increased cellular proliferation with progressive diffused interstitial thickening on the 4th day following exposure. On the 16th day, loss of alveolar space and consolidation of large areas of all lobes were observed. Sarin also caused damage to the respiratory bronchioles. All the therapy regime blocked the development of lung lesions in the descending orders: atropine, diazepam and pralidoxime, atropine and diazepam > diazepam and pralidoxime > atropine and pralidoxime. The result suggests that diazepam in combination with atropine and pralidoxime could be an effective drug combination regime for the lung lesions.