Effect of N-methylpyridinium-2-aldoxime methane sulphonate (P2S) on rat intestinal, (Na-K)ATPase and adenyl cyclase activities

The effect of N-methylpyridinium-2-aldoxime methane sulphonate (P2S), a drug recommended for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes in organophosphate poisoning, on intestinal (Na-K) ATPase and adenyl cyclase activities, was tested in rats. Intestinal (Na-K) ATPase activity was determined 5 h after intragastric administration of either 0.15 M NaCl or P2S 200 mg/kg body weight. P2S decreased significantly jejunal and colonic (Na-K)ATPase activity, 17.1 +/- 4.8 (S.E.) and 13.5 +/- 3.0, as compared to that in saline-treated rats, 41.5 +/- 3.0 (S.E.) and 25.4 +/- 1.2 mumol Pi/mg protein per h, respectively. Pretreatment with methyl prednisolone did not prevent the decrease in enzyme activity induced by P2S. Mucosal PGE2 and cAMP contents, adenyl cyclase and phosphodiesterase activities, were similar in P2S and saline-treated rats. It is thus suggested that P2S-induced inhibition of intestinal (Na-K)ATPase activity might be among the mechanisms contributing to looseness of the stool frequently observed following P2S administration.