Nerve agents (NAs) are potent organophosphorus (OP) compounds with applications in chemical warfare. OP compounds act by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Soman (O-pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate) is one of the most potent NAs. It is well known that small doses of NAs can be lethal, and that even non-lethal exposure leads to long-term mental debilitation/neurological damage. However, the neuropathology following exposure to sub-lethal nerve agents is not well understood. In this study, we examined changes in tissue oxygenation (pO₂) in the cortex and hippocampus after a sub-lethal dose of soman [80-90 μg/kg; subcutaneous]. pO₂ changes can provide information regarding oxygen delivery and utilization and may be indicative of a disruption in cerebral blood flow and/or metabolism. Changes in oxygenation were measured with chronically implanted oxygen sensors in awake and freely moving rats. Measurements were taken before, during, and after soman-induced convulsive seizures. Soman exposure resulted in an immediate increase in pO₂ in the cortex, followed by an even greater increase that precedes the onset of soman-induced convulsive seizures. The rise in hippocampus pO₂ was delayed relative to the cortex, although the general pattern of brain oxygenation between these two regions was similar. After convulsive seizures began, pO₂ levels declined but usually remained hyperoxygenated. Following the decline in pO₂, low frequency cycles of large amplitude changes were observed in both the cortex and hippocampus. This pattern is consistent with recurring seizures. Measuring real-time changes in brain pO₂ provides new information on the physiological status of the brain following soman exposure. These results highlight that the measurement of brain oxygenation could provide a sensitive marker of nerve agent exposure and serve as a biomarker for treatment studies.

#	Concept	H-Index	Publications	Citations
1	Medicine	1	1	15
2	Metabolism	1	1	15
3	Neurology	1	1	15
4	Neuroscience	1	1	15
5	Neurodegenerative Diseases	1	1	15

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