“Aren’t VX nerve agent and sarin gas both nerve toxins?”

In the stuffy room, Megure Jusan turned off the fan and asked in confusion:

"Maybe they work differently?"

"Yes, neurotoxins are toxins that damage the normal function of the nervous system..."

Holding his breath, Sakaki Makoto checked the lounge and said:

"At room temperature, they are in liquid form and were developed from civilian organophosphorus pesticides. Their lethal mechanism is the same as that of dichlorvos."

"But VX nerve agent is much more powerful than sarin gas and is considered the most powerful nerve toxin in the world."

"The lethal dose is 30 micrograms, or one-third of a gram."

After checking the rest room, Sakaki Makoto did not find any liquid suspected of VX nerve agent, and he felt relieved:

"Under normal conditions, VX is an odorless, colorless, oily liquid, just like motor oil, which can be absorbed by human skin and enter organ tissues within seconds."

"When heated, it turns into a thick, lingering vapor, which is more lethal if inhaled."

"Between 1961 and 1968, the United States produced 4,400 tons of VX nerve toxin, an amount that could kill all humans on Earth."

"hiss!"

Megure Jusan opened his eyes wide and took a breath of cold air:

“Why does the United States produce so many neurotoxins?”

"Of course it is used to deal with its enemies."

Clapping his hands, Sakaki Makoto said calmly:

"The evil of human nature is unpredictable."

"but...."

"Russia also has VX nerve toxin, and the United States is cautious and does not dare to use chemical means to attack easily."

"I remember...."

Conan, who was looking down in thought, suddenly said:

"There is an antidote for the VX neurotoxin."

"Yes, there is indeed an antidote."

Sakaki Makoto nodded and agreed with him:

"But the antidote for VX neurotoxin must be taken before the poison takes effect."

"Let alone the question of whether there is an antidote, by the time we realized that Nishijo Masato was poisoned, it was already too late."

"This colorless and odorless toxin can kill people without them knowing it, and it is hard to guard against..."

There was one thing that Makoto Sakaki didn't say.

In fact, despite the signing of the Chemical Weapons Convention, there are still many organizations in the world that use nerve toxins for assassinations.

for example....

Mercad.

Dealing with potential threats from hostile countries, like scientists, politicians, generals, etc., is the mission of the intelligence agencies.

Once you are infected with VX neurotoxin, if you don't find it right away...

Those who were poisoned were basically declared dead.

Especially in some areas except the southwest and north, assassinations are more frequent.

"Wait..."

At this time, Hattori Heiji asked:

"Since VX nerve toxin is much more powerful than sarin gas, how did Masato Nishijo get poisoned?"

"We were all in the same room, he was poisoned, why are we okay?"

"The place where Nishijo Masato was poisoned is probably not here."

Tapping his toes lightly on the lounge floor, Sakaki Makoto slowly said:

"VX nerve toxin is indeed much more powerful than sarin toxin, but..."

"It doesn't have an instant onset, but is a well-known delayed-acting toxin, which is why it is favored by agents."

"Delayed-release toxin?"

Hattori Heiji frowned:

"How do you delay it?"

"This involves the origin of human life activities..."

Facing Hattori Heiji's question, Sakaki Makoto patiently explained:

"Scientific research shows that life activities are controlled and regulated by the nervous system, and the communication between the nervous systems relies on the transmission and control of chemical molecules in the synaptic vesicles released from the presynaptic membrane of the synapse."

"Once this connection is disturbed, life activities will become dangerous, which is what I often call bioelectricity."

"As for bioelectric current... to put it simply, it's nerve impulses."

Sakaki lit up a cigarette, took two puffs, and continued:

"The human brain contains a large amount of acetylcholine, and the content of acetylcholine decreases with age. The elderly decrease by 30% compared to the young, and the patients with Alzheimer's disease decrease by 70-80%."

"That's because acetylcholine is a naturally occurring chemical in the body that transmits nerve activity."

"When acetylcholine binds to choline receptors, the receptors enter an excited state and transmit nerve impulses, or bioelectric currents, to the next level, promoting life activities."

"but....."

"If there is too much acetylcholine, the choline receptors will be overexcited, causing bioelectrical disturbances and errors in life activities."

Hearing this, Hattori Heiji seemed to understand something.

but...

What Sakaki Makoto is going to say next is the most important thing:

"In order to prevent the choline receptors from becoming overexcited, the body produces a catalyst called acetylcholinesterase."

"Acetylcholinesterase can break down 300 acetylcholine molecules into choline and acetic acid within 1 millisecond to ensure the normal operation of the neurotransmission process."

"The VX nerve agent has a strong inhibitory effect on the activity of acetylcholinesterase, causing a large amount of undecomposed acetylcholine to accumulate, overexcite choline receptors, and cause endogenous choline poisoning and severe central nervous system dysfunction..."

“It’s like the relationship between the author and the reader. If the author is likened to a donkey, then the reader is the villain with a whip, constantly whipping the donkey to make it work. But if the donkey is already at its limit and the whip keeps whipping it…”

"The donkey will die of exhaustion, or will just quit working... well, especially if they don't have food to eat, the donkey will probably go on strike any day."

"oh!!!"

Conan slapped his head and suddenly realized:

"So, those patients with Alzheimer's disease are actually caused by a decrease in the amount of acetylcholine in their brains?"

“That’s about right…”

Sakaki Makoto pushed up his sunglasses and blew out a puff of smoke:

"Human life activities require nutrition, and acetylcholine is mostly present in the form of choline in foods such as eggs, fish, and meat."

"Scientific research shows that eating more foods rich in acetylcholine can promote the activation of brain nerve conduction function, increase transmission speed, enhance memory, improve brain function, and delay aging."

"It's like the landlord's donkey. It eats a lot so it can work harder!"

"If there is nothing to eat, the skinny donkey will soon be squeezed to death."

Hattori Heiji nodded in agreement:

"In layman's terms..."

"The lethal mechanism of VX neurotoxin is that after poisoning, acetylcholinesterase is inactivated, leading to excessive accumulation of acetylcholine, which in turn causes dysfunction of the body and ultimately death."

"The process of acetylcholine accumulation takes time..."

"That's why you concluded, Mr. Sakaki Makoto, that the place where the criminal poisoned was not in the lounge!"