Pralidoxime (2-PAM) is a monopyridinium aldoxime-type compound of acetylcholinesterase reactivators. 2-PAM was introduced about five decades ago for the treatment of organophosphorus poisoning in order to reactivate inhibited acetylcholinesterase. The application of organophosphorus compounds is varied, including warfare agents, insecticides and pesticides in agriculture, the chemical industry, etc. The exposure is not limited to certain groups of humans: rather everyone can be affected, including pregnant women, and consequently fetuses as well. The present study was aimed to determine the 2-PAM concentration in the plasma of pregnant mice, assuming a different physiological condition than non-pregnant ones. Blood-placenta penetration of 2-PAM was also investigated. 2-PAM was intraperitoneally injected into mice on gestational day 18 and mother blood was collected following 5, 15, 30 and 90 minutes. Four fetuses along with their placentas were collected at every time point. HPLC-UV method was employed to determine the 2-PAM concentrations. The result showed higher levels of 2-PAM at 15 minutes (tmax) in the plasma of pregnant mice compared to non-pregnant ones. Moreover, 2-PAM copiously reached the placenta, which is a store house of nutrients for the fetus. A higher concentration of 2-PAM was found in the brain of fetuses in comparison to that of the mothers’. Our study concludes that 2-PAM crosses the placenta barrier and reaches the brain of the fetus in a more ample quantity than that in the mother’s brain. The results provide an insight into a special condition of pregnancy when antidotal application of the acetylcholinesterase reactivator 2-PAM in organophosphorus poisoning results in 2-PAM exposure in the fetus.

• MeSH
• Antidotes pharmacology   metabolism   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Maternal-Fetal Exchange MeSH
• Models, Animal MeSH
• Brain growth & development   drug effects   MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Organophosphorus Compounds adverse effects   MeSH
• Pralidoxime Compounds * pharmacology   metabolism   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Cholinesterase Reactivators pharmacokinetics   metabolism   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Fetal Development drug effects   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Mice MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Publication type
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH