Morphological Correlates of the Protection Afforded by Varma Mixture in Rat Cornea Exposed to Half Mustard (CEES): A Proposed New Treatment for Sulfur Mustard Toxicity

AbstractSulfur mustard gas, a bifunctional alkylating synthetic vesicating agent, has been used in warfare since World War I. It continues to be a modern chemical warfare threat agent of choice of some factions. Whole-body exposure to sulfur mustard gas, or its laboratory simulant, a monofunctional alkylating sulfur mustard, CEES, induces cutaneous, respiratory, and ocular impairments. Of these, ocular damage resulting from irritation and edema of eyelids, conjunctiva, and especially cornea causes the most immediate incapacitation. This initial ocular pathology may be followed by secondary intracorneal changes leading to severe corneal opacities. Heretofore there has been no specific prophylaxis except avoidance, and no specific therapy except palliative for mustard gas-induced ocular lesions. In the present study, we present morphological correlates of the apparent attenuation of CEES-induced ocular lesions in a rat eye model by a therapeutic mixture compound developed by Varma. Varma mixture consists of...