Research Paper - Cardio-respiratory effects of DRDE-07, a new prophylactic agent for sulphur mustard toxicity, in anesthetized rats

OBJECTIVE: To study the cardio-respiratory effects of DRDE-07, a new prophylactic agent for sulphur mustard. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The effect of DRDE-07 was studied in anesthetized male rats (Wistar), by administering it either by intraperitoneal or oral routes. Different doses (0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 LD50) were used and various cardio-respiratory parameters viz., mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and tidal volume were monitored on an oscillograph. RESULTS: Intraperitoneal administration of 0.5 and 1.0 LD50 and oral administration of 0.25 LD50 of DRDE-07 did not produce any effect on the cardio-respiratory variables. Oral administration of 0.5 and 1.0 LD50 showed a significant decrease in mean arterial blood pressure after 60 min. None of the animals died in the two-hour monitoring period. Two (2.0) LD50 administration of DRDE-07 either by intraperitoneal or oral routes induced a sudden decrease in the mean arterial blood pressure and the animals died within one hour. CONCLUSION: DRDE-07 did not show any significant effect on the cardio-respiratory variables at a dose of 0.25 LD50 by oral route and 1.0 LD50 by intraperitoneal route. The death after intraperitoneal or oral administration (2.0 LD50) of DRDE-07 is due to the sudden fall in the mean arterial blood pressure