Korean J Ophthalmol.  1994 Dec;8(2):77-82. 10.3341/kjo.1994.8.2.77.

Aconite induced myelo-optic neuropathy in a rabbit model

• Suk KD
• Yoon KC
• Shin JP
• Kim SH

• KMID: 1735128
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.1994.8.2.77

Abstract

Aconite is a common remedy of herb doctors and is widely used in the Far East. Clinical aspects of the visual disturbance produced by this drug have been described, but little is known about its pathology. Tinctura aconiti (0.6 mg of total alkaloid/kg 2x) was administered intraperitoneally in rabbits to evaluate its toxic effects on the visual system. The alteration in the visual evoked potential following aconite injection consisted of a delay in the onset and peak latency. Histopathologically, there were damages to the myelin sheath of the visual pathway, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. These findings suggest that aconite may cause primarily myelo-optic neuropathy.

Keyword

aconite; visual evoked potential; electron microscope; myelo-opticneuropathy

MeSH Terms

Aconitum/administration & dosage/*toxicity
Animals
Evoked Potentials, Visual/*drug effects
Injections, Intraperitoneal
Myelin Sheath/*drug effects/ultrastructure
Optic Nerve/*drug effects/ultrastructure
Optic Nerve Diseases/*chemically induced/pathology
Rabbits
Spinal Cord/*drug effects/ultrastructure