ELECTRON-OPAQUE INCLUSIONS IN THE RAT RETINAL-PIGMENT EPITHELIUM AFTER TREATMENT WITH CHELATORS OF ZINC

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 21  (1) , 1-9
Abstract
Sprague-Dawley male rats given i.p. injections of Zn chelators, dithizone and 1,10-phenanthroline, had unusual osmiophilic inclusion bodies in their retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). These structures were not seen in untreated or vehicle-treated controls. The morphology of the inclusion bodies clearly distinguished them from cytoplasmic organelles observed normally in the RPE. The number of inclusion bodies is dose-dependent. The bodies do not have the morphological characteristics of lipid droplets seen infrequently in the untreated rat RPE. Apparently sequestration of Zn, either rapidly with injections of dithizone or more slowly with daily administration of 1,10-phenanthroline, exerts pronounced effects on the retinal pigment epithelial cells.

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