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Mysterious nerve agents: How do they change the way the body works in seconds?
Nerve agents, commonly known as nerve gases, are organic chemicals that can alter the functioning of the human body within seconds. This chemical interferes with the mechanism of neurotransmission by blocking the action of an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase, leading to various physiological reactions in the body. It is estimated that these poisons have a very short duration of action but can cause extremely deadly results.
Nerve agent poisoning can cause pupil constriction, drooling, seizures, and even involuntary urination and defecation, all of which can appear within seconds of exposure.
Death often follows, primarily from loss of breathing and other muscle control, and may end life within minutes. While the most common route of entry is through the respiratory system, some nerve agents can also enter the body through the skin, making exposure to these agents a higher risk.
Biological Effects
The mechanism of action of nerve agents is through damage to the nervous system. Under normal physiological conditions, when a motor nerve is stimulated, the released acetylcholine comes into play and is then broken down by acetylcholinesterase to allow the muscle to relax. However, nerve agents inhibit the function of this enzyme, preventing acetylcholine from being broken down in nerve synapses, causing muscles to fail to receive relaxation signals and continue to contract, thereby triggering epilepsy and other serious physiological reactions.
This paralysis spreads throughout the body and may affect the muscles involved in breathing, eventually causing respiratory failure.
Initial symptoms of exposure to these agents include a runny nose, tight chest and constricted pupils, followed by difficulty breathing, nausea and drooling. As the loss of bodily control continues, victims experience involuntary salivation, tearing, urination, and defecation.
Mechanism of action
When stimulated, normal motor nerves release acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that transmits impulses to the muscle or organ. Nerve agents inhibit the function of acetylcholinesterase by forming covalent bonds with the active site of acetylcholinesterase, which leads to the accumulation of acetylcholine, causing nerve impulses to be transmitted continuously and muscle contraction cannot be stopped.
Nerve agents affect muscles and glands throughout the body, causing symptoms such as uncontrolled drooling, watery eyes and excessive nasal discharge.
Treatment methods
The standard treatment for nerve agent poisoning is a combination of anticholinergics and oxonamides. Anticholinergics relieve symptoms by reducing the effects of acetylcholine, while oxyurea detoxifies by removing phosphate molecules from the active site of acetylcholinesterase.
Preventive measures
In some cases, specific anticholinergics can be used as a preventive measure, but they must be used before exposure and in combination with the medication in question. More research is needed to determine the effectiveness of this preventive measure.
Types of nerve agents
Nerve agents are mainly divided into two categories: G series and V series. G-series nerve agents are typically developed in Germany and are non-persistent gases that evaporate quickly after release. In contrast, V-series nerve agents are persistent agents that can remain in the environment for a long time and pose a longer-term threat to humans.
In today's world, the use of nerve agents remains highly controversial and potentially dangerous. From their development history to their current applications and preventive measures, these nerve agents remain a focus of scientific and military attention. This raises an important question: Are we adequately prepared to prevent and respond to these dangerous nerve agents?
