Culbertson, Jr., R. and Osburn, B.I., 1980. The biologic effects of bacterial endotoxin: a short review. Vet. Sci. Commun., 4: 3-14=This short reveiw considers some of the more widely accepted biological actions of bacterial endotoxin. Early sections concern endotoxin chemical composition, assay techniques, and species variation in toxigenicity. Individual specific actions and classical endotoxin-induced phenomena are presented under headings of pyrogenic effect, hemodynamic effects, disseminated intravascular coagulation, complement system effects, induction of the generalized Shwartzman reaction, effects upon cellular constituents of blood, metabolic and endocrinologic effects, immunologic effects, nervous system effects, hepatic effects, and abortifacient action. The relationship of these effects to clinical manifestations is discussed where warranted.

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The neurotoxicities of single doses of a chemical warfare agent VX [phosphonothioic acid, methyl-S-(2-[bis(1-methylethyl)amino/ethyl) O-ethyl ester], a metabolite of the agricultural chemical parathion, paraoxon, PO (phosphonothioic acid, diethyl paranitrophenyl ester), and the known neuropathic agents DFP] phosphorofluoridic acid, bis(1-methylethyl) ester] and TOCP (phosphoric acid, tri-o-tolyl ester) were compared in the chicken. Single injections (subcutaneous, sc) of VX as high as 150 micrograms/kg (5 times the LD50, intramuscular, im) were tolerated by laying tens if atropine and 2-pralidoxime were used as antidotes before and immediately after injection. The 150 of VX for inhibition of chicken brain acetylcholinesterase was approximately 5 X 10(-10). Plasma acetylcholinesterase, but not butyrylcholinesterase, was depressed 2 h after injections of 2-20 micrograms VX/kg im without antidotes. Levels of plasma enzymes such as creatine kinase, indicative of tissue damage, were increased after exposure to both VX and PO. Injections of up to 150 micrograms/kg of VX with antidotes did not cause locomotor or histological signs of organophosphorus-induced delayed neuropathy, but single injections of 400 mg TOCP/kg did.