Organophosphate-induced delayed neuropathy
Encyclopedia
Organophosphate-induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN), also called organophosphate-induced delayed polyneuropathy (OPIDP), is a neuropathy caused by killing of neurons in the central nervous system
, especially in the spinal cord
, as a result of acute or chronic organophosphate poisoning
.
A striking example of OPIDN occurred during the 1930s Prohibition Era
when thousands of men in the American South and Midwest developed arm and leg weakness and pain after drinking a "medicinal" alcohol substitute. The drink, called "Ginger Jake," contained an adulterated Jamaican ginger
extract containing tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (TOCP) which resulted in partially reversible neurologic damage. The damage resulted in the limping "Jake Leg" or "Jake Walk" which were terms frequently used in the blues music of the period. Europe and Morocco
both experienced outbreaks of TOCP poisoning from contaminated abortifacient
s and cooking oil
, respectively.
OPIDN can be induced by diisopropylfluorophosphate
, which is used for this purpose as an experimental agent.
Central nervous system
The central nervous system is the part of the nervous system that integrates the information that it receives from, and coordinates the activity of, all parts of the bodies of bilaterian animals—that is, all multicellular animals except sponges and radially symmetric animals such as jellyfish...
, especially in the spinal cord
Spinal cord
The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brain . The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system...
, as a result of acute or chronic organophosphate poisoning
Organophosphate poisoning
Organophosphate poisoning results from exposure to organophosphates , which cause the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase leading to the accumulation of acetylcholine in the body. Organophosphate poisoning most commonly results from exposure to insecticides or nerve agents...
.
A striking example of OPIDN occurred during the 1930s Prohibition Era
Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. The ban was mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the Volstead Act set down the rules for enforcing the ban, as well as defining which...
when thousands of men in the American South and Midwest developed arm and leg weakness and pain after drinking a "medicinal" alcohol substitute. The drink, called "Ginger Jake," contained an adulterated Jamaican ginger
Jamaican ginger
Jamaica Ginger extract was a late 19th century patent medicine that provided a convenient way to bypass Prohibition laws, since it contained between 70-80% ethanol by weight.-History:...
extract containing tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (TOCP) which resulted in partially reversible neurologic damage. The damage resulted in the limping "Jake Leg" or "Jake Walk" which were terms frequently used in the blues music of the period. Europe and Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
both experienced outbreaks of TOCP poisoning from contaminated abortifacient
Abortifacient
An abortifacient is a substance that induces abortion. Abortifacients for animals that have mated undesirably are known as mismating shots....
s and cooking oil
Cooking oil
Cooking oil is purified fat of plant origin, which is usually liquid at room temperature ....
, respectively.
OPIDN can be induced by diisopropylfluorophosphate
Diisopropylfluorophosphate
Diisopropyl fluorophosphate is an oily, colorless liquid with the chemical formula C6H14FO3P. It is used in medicine and as an organophosphorus insecticide...
, which is used for this purpose as an experimental agent.