Abraham_2001_Proc.West.Pharmacol.Soc_44_185

Sarin and soman induced the following similar effects prolongation of QT interval duration cardiac lesions and immediate and statistically significant decrease in body weight However animals exposed to soman remained underweight and suffered delayed death Thus as sarin produced both cardiac lesions and QT prolongation without exhibiting late death it is unlikely that the late death observed in soman-poisoned rats are attributable to QT prolongation and the occurrence of life-threatening arrhythmias It is postulated that low body weight may precipitate late mortality in soman-exposed rats It is well documented that QT prolongation in the rat is explained in terms of blockade of the Ito potassium channels and the Na+/Ca+2 exchanger Soman and sarin may exert their effect on QT interval duration through non-specific action on these sites As drug-induced QT prolongation in man is mediated by blockade of Ikr potassium channels the data presented in this study may not predict late death in humans in cases of organophosphate intoxication