Effects of experimental sarin intoxication on the morphology of the mouse diaphragm: a light and electron microscopical study

A sublethal dose of sarin (GB, isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate) was administered to mice. The animals were killed up to 28 days after dosing. Following excision, diaphragms were divided into two halves and used for ultrastructural examination and light microscopy. Planar sections of diaphragm showed muscle fibre degeneration and predominantly mononuclear infiltration, notably at 24 h. Semithin toluidine blue-stained sections and ultrastructural studies demonstrated hypercontraction with gross disruption of sarcomeres including loss of Z and A bands, which appeared to be associated with neuromuscular junctions. All changes were rapidly regressing by 7 days.