Acute ocular effects of mustard gas: Ultrastructural pathology and immunohistopathology of exposed rabbit cornea

Citation
Jp. Petrali et al., Acute ocular effects of mustard gas: Ultrastructural pathology and immunohistopathology of exposed rabbit cornea, J APPL TOX, 21, 2000, pp. S173-S175
Citations number
8
Categorie Soggetti
Pharmacology & Toxicology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY
ISSN journal
0260437X → ACNP
Volume
21
Year of publication
2000
Supplement
1
Pages
S173 - S175
Database
ISI
SICI code
0260-437X(200012)21:<S173:AOEOMG>2.0.ZU;2-Q
Abstract
Whole-body exposure to sulfur mustard (HD) produces cutaneous, respiratory and ocular impairment. Of these, ocular damage causes the most immediate in capacitation. Heretofore, characterization of Ho ocular toxicity has been l argely Limited to gross and histological observations. In the present study we explore histological, ultrastructural and immunopathological acute effe cts of HD ocular exposure and establish correlations with HD toxicity data already documented for dermal exposure. Anesthetized rabbits were exposed t o 0.4 mul of liquid HD placed directly on the cornea, Animals were euthaniz ed at 6, 9 and 24 h post-exposure and the eyes were enucleated and processe d for histopathology, ultrastructural and immunoperoxidase study. At 6 and 9 h, the most prominent histological feature was nuclear pyknosis, necrosis and loss of polarity of corneal epithelial basal cells to the exclusion of other epithelial cells. At 24 h, all corneal epithelial cells presented de generative changes, with the epithelium eventually detaching from the under lying basement membrane at the level of the lamina lucida, Microblisters, a characteristic HD-induced skin pathology of the basement membrane zone of animals, were absent in this corneal study, Edema, degenerating fibroblasts and inflammatory cellular infiltrates were persistent stromal responses. I mmunopathological effects included changes in antigenicity of bullous pemph igoid protein, laminin, desmosomal protein, Ki67 and p53. These morphologic al and immunopathological effects of corneal exposure to HD appear to be la rgely consistent with that previously reported for dermal exposures, perhap s providing shared anatomical considerations for the development of specifi c HD prophylaxis and therapy. Published in 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.