Toxicity of Benzalkonium Chloride on Corneal Endothelium of Rabbits.
- Author:
Seh Kwang PARK
1
;
Young Ho HAHN
;
Bang HUR
Author Information
1. Department of Ophthalmology, Kosin Medical College, Pusan, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
0.01% Benzalkonium chloride;
De-epithelized cornea;
Endothelial damage
- MeSH:
Benzalkonium Compounds*;
Cornea;
Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough;
Endothelium, Corneal*;
Epithelium;
Phagosomes;
Rabbits*;
Vacuoles
- From:Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society
1995;36(7):1155-1161
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
An experimental study was performed on 16 rabbits to evaluate the toxicity of benzalkonium chloride(BAK) on the corneal endothelium. Each rabbit received two drops of 0.01% BAK in the right eye and BSS in the left eye as control. The rabbits were divided into 4 groups: instillation of BAK 20 times at 6-minute intervals in normal cornea(group 1), instillation of BAK 40 times at 3-minute intervals in normal cornea (group 2), instillation of BAK 20 times at 6-minute intervals in de-epithelized condition with the size of 6mm diameter(group 3) and instillation of BAK 40 times at 3-minute intervals in deepithelized cornea(group 4). After the last instillation of BAK, histopathologic examination was performed with electron microscope. Group 1 showed nearly normal corneal endothelial findings, but group 2, 3 and 4 showed enlarged rough endoplasmic reticulum, partially distrupted Goigi apparatus and mitochodria, the presence of vacuoles and phagosomes. Group 4 showed severe destruction of subcellular structures. The results of this study indicate that an exaggerated use of topical drug containing 0.01% BAK may induce corneal endothelial damage, especially when the epithelium was already damaged.
