J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1999 Nov;40(11):3079-3087.

The Effect of Nitric Oxide on Retina after Introducing into Vitreal Space in Pigmented Rabbit

• Park YJ
• Kwon NS
• Lim CS
• Yang HN

Abstract

Nitric oxide[NO], a gas with a half-life of a few seconds, has diverse physiological functions. Present study was undertaken to find retinal toxicity of NO released by NO donor in pigmented rabbits. S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D, L-penicil-lamine[SNAP], as a NO donor, dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide[DMSO] was injected into the vitreous of pigmented rabbits. N-acetyl-D, L-penicillamine[NAP] was also injected to the control rabbits. Electroretinogram[ERG] was taken during preinjection period, 3 hours and 6 hours after injection. Light microscopic and transmission electron microscopic results were obtained at each time interval. In SNAP treated group, a-wave amplitude of maximal combined response was reduced. In contrast, b/a ratio was increased between 3 hours and 6 hours after injection. Histologic examinations showed vacuolar degeneration and clumping and lysis of nuclei of photoreceptors. Lysosome and autophagic vacuoles were also noted in the cytoplasm of outer neuronal cells. In conjunction with above results, further studies about optimal concentration are required in order to use NO in the medical fields of ophthalmology.

Keyword

Electroretinogram; Nitric oxide; Nitric oxide synthase; Retinal toxicity; S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D; L-penicillamine

MeSH Terms

Cytoplasm
Half-Life
Humans
Lysosomes
Neurons
Nitric Oxide Synthase
Nitric Oxide*
Ophthalmology
Rabbits
Retina*
Retinaldehyde
Tissue Donors
Vacuoles
Nitric Oxide
Nitric Oxide Synthase
Retinaldehyde