Acute organophosphate toxicity !
Normally, acetylcholinesterase catalyzes the degradation of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the synapse (yellow panel below). Organophosphate pesticides phosphorylate acetylcholine, thereby reducing the ability of the enzyme to break down the neurotransmitter (red panel below). This produces an accumulation of acetylcholine in the central and peripheral nervous systems, resulting in an acute cholinergic syndrome via continuous neurotransmission - called M-U-D-D-L-E-S:
- miosis,
- urination,
- diarrhea,
- diaphoresis,
- lacrimation,
- excitation of the central nervous system, and
- salivation
