An experimental study on damage of retina function due to toxicity of carbon disulfide and lipid peroxidation

Purpose: To study the relation between the changes in the electroretinogram and the lipid peroxidation of the retina during the period of retinal dama ge due to carbon disulfide (CS2). Methods: To examine the amplitude and latency of a, b waves of the electror etinogram (ERG) and to assay the activities of total superoxide dismutases (TSOD), (EC no. 1.15.1.1), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (EC no.1,11,1.9) and malondialdehyed (MDA) in the retina of animals with experimental CS2 t oxic retinopathy, Results: The b wave amplitude (161+/-51 mu v) of the animals exposed to CS2 for 3 weeks was significantly lower than that of the controls (310+/-93 pv ) (p<0.05), TSOD (30+/-5 Nu/mg)in the retinal tissues exposed was lower tha n that (38+/-8 Nu/mg) (p<0.05) in the controls and MDA (7+/-2 nmol/mg) in t he exposed,vas higher than that (4+/-1nmol/mg) (p<0.05) in the controls at a concentration of CS2 1000 mg/m(3). Analyzed with the correlation coeffici ent, there,vas a significant positive correlation between the amplitude cha nges of ERG b wave and TSOD (p<0.001) and a remarkable negative correlation between the amplitude changes of ERG b wave and MDA (p<0.05) in the animal s' exposed retinal tissues. Conclusion: The present studies indicated that the damaged function of earl y CS2 toxic retinopathy was possibly associated with lipid peroxidation.