[Tilorone-induced functional changes in the rat retina].
BACKGROUND
The amphiphilic interferon-inducing drug tilorone belongs to the group of synthetic fluorenone with antitumorus and antiviral effects and is known to cause lipidosis in the human and rat retina.


METHODS
We treated female albino Wistar-Kyoto-Rats and Spontaneously-Hypertensive-Rats orally with tilorone for 8 weeks. The animals were submitted to electroretinography, and the retinae were prepared for histological investigations.


RESULTS
Tilorone caused moderate lipidosis in the ganglion cells and slight lipidosis in the pigment epithelium after 8 weeks of treatment with a stronger effect in Spontaneously-Hypertensive-Rats. The b-wave amplitude was reduced by 30% compared to controls in Spontaneously-Hypertensive-Rats and by 10% in the Wistar-Kyoto-group. The a-wave amplitude was reduced by 25% in Spontaneously-Hypertensive-Rats.


CONCLUSIONS
Tilorone induced lipidosis shows a clear affinity to ganglion cells. The electroretinographic changes in Spontaneously-Hypertensive-Rats are most likely caused by the severe lipidosis in the neuroretina compared to the Wistar-Kyoto-group.
Bredehorn
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T
Universitätsklinik und Poliklinik für Augenheilkunde, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Saale.
Duncker
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GI
D000818:Animals; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007369:Interferon Inducers / Q000633:toxicity*; D008064:Lipidoses / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013994:Tilorone / Q000633:toxicity*
D007369:Interferon Inducers; D013994:Tilorone