CHLORPHENTERMINE-INDUCED LIPIDOSIS IN THE RAT RETINA - A FUNCTIONAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL-STUDY

Chronic administration of the cationic amphiphilic anorexigenic drug c hlorphentermine to rats has previously been shown to induce extraocula r and ocular lipidosis: large numbers of lipidosis - related cytoplasm ic inclusions can be found in the pigment epithelium and smaller numbe rs in the neuroretina. In the present study, female albino Wistar rats were treated orally with chlorphentermine (30-45 mg/kg body weight) f or 4-16 weeks. The animals were submitted to electroretinography, and the retinae were prepared for hist logical investigations. Our histolo gical findings corresponded to previous reports. The changes in electr oretinographic parameters were low. The clearest change was a reductio n of the b-wave amplitude Of 20% after t2 and 16 weeks of treatment co mpared with the values before drug treatment. The a-wave amplitude did not differ from that in the control group. Lipidosis in the neuroreti na may be the reason for functional influences on the b-wave amplitude . The function of the receptor cells, which is represented by the a-wa ve, appeared unaffected by chlorphentermine.