Salt poisoning blindness in wistar rat, rabbit, and pig

Authors: Heydarpour, F.¹; Derakhshandeh, J.²; Fekri, A.²; Heydarpour, P.³

Source: Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry, Volume 90, Number 5, September 2008 , pp. 1035-1042(8)

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd

Abstract:

The objective of this study was to determine the ocular changes leading to blindness following different salt concentration consumption in Wistar rats. Test groups consumed 1, 2, 3, 3.5, or 4% salt concentration respectively as potable water, while the control group used tap water. Ophthalmic examinations with a slit-lamp and fundus camera were performed. Lack of eye response to light and manual stimuli were considered as blindness criteria. Similar experimental conditions were performed in pigs and rabbits. Short duration consumption of 1 or 2% salt concentrations did not produce any detectable ocular signs, whereas long duration consumption of 2% salt concentration induced prominent ocular signs. After 3-4 days of consuming 3% and higher salt concentrations, retinal and vitreous hemorrhages, posterior vitreous detachment PVD, and retinal detachment were observed. The following ocular changes included conjunctivital injection, cornea and lens opacities, swelling of the optic disc, blindness, vitreous collapse, and finally phthisis bulbi. Salt poisoning led to hypernatremia and hyperosmolarity. Due to hyperosmolarity, the vitreous lost some of its fluid contents and vitreous shrinkage resulted in vascular damage, retinal and vitreous hemorrhage, PVD, and retinal detachment. In addition, conjunctivitis, corneal and lens opacities, swelling of the optic disc, blindness, vitreous collapse, and finally phthisis bulbi was evident.

Keywords: blindness; hypernatremia; phthisis bulbi; retinal hemorrhages; salt poisoning; vitreous hemorrhages

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02772240701831186

Affiliations: 1: Department of Physiology, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran 2: Department of Ophthalmology, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran 3: Medical Faculty, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran

Publication date: 2008-09-01

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• In this Subject: Chemistry (General) ,  Earth and Environmental Sciences ,  Toxicology
• By this author: Heydarpour, F. ;  Derakhshandeh, J. ;  Fekri, A. ;  Heydarpour, P.

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