A permeability test for acute corneal toxicity.
The penetration of sulforhodamine B (SRB) into the two corneas of a freshly killed mouse was measured after one eye was briefly exposed to a solution of a possibly toxic substance. The ratio of the penetrations provides a numerical index of acute toxicity to the corneal epithelium. With a group of 6 animals, a 50% rise in the index can be distinguished at the 95% confidence level; the maximum rise achievable in practice seems to be about 30. NaOH and benzalkonium chloride (BAK) gave graded increases in the value as their concentrations rose; the rise in index corresponded roughly to the injury caused to the living eye.
D000818:Animals; D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds / Q000633:toxicity; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects*; D019793:Fluorescein; D005452:Fluoresceins; D051379:Mice; D010779:Photofluorography; D011136:Polysorbates / Q000633:toxicity; D011430:Propoxycaine / Q000633:toxicity; D012235:Rhodamines; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000633:toxicity; D014966:Xanthenes
D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds; D005452:Fluoresceins; D011136:Polysorbates; D012235:Rhodamines; D014966:Xanthenes; C022027:lissamine rhodamine B; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; C005717:proxymetacaine; D011430:Propoxycaine; D019793:Fluorescein