A morphological study of the acute toxicity of l-cysteine on the retina of young rats

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Abstract

Systemic administration of l-cysteine to rats (1·2 mg/g body weight) during their first ten days of life leads to a permanent retinal dystrophy which affects the inner layers of retina. To clarify which types of retinal cells that are involved in this lesion, 9- to 10-day-old rats were injected subcutaneously with l-cysteine. The retinas obtained from these animals 4 hr later were examined by light and electron microscopy. Numerous amacrine cells with pyknotic nuclei and swollen cytoplasm were observed. Between these cells undergoing necrosis, well preserved amacrine cells were found. Similar changes were found in about 50% of the ganglion cells. No specific changes were observed in the bipolar cells, the Müller cells or the horizontal cells. The photoreceptors and the pigment epithelium were unaffected. It is concluded that a sublethal dose of l-cysteine given systemically to young rats (up to the age of 10 days), affects subpopulations of the amacrine and the ganglion cells of the retina. Potentially, l-cysteine used in this way, may be a useful scientific tool to destroy selectively populations of retinal neurons.

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