"Aging Changes and Effects of Ethambutol on the Albino Rat Retina."

Abstract

.After sacrificing the animals of the four groups, the eyeballs were divided and prepared for examination by light and electron microscope. Gallocyanine dye, Golgi Cox method and tuluidine blue dye were used to stain the slides and examined by light microscopy. Steriological procedures were applied to calculate:

1- The volume proportion (Vv) of cells in the outer nuclear, inner nuclear and ganglion cells layers. 2- The thickness of the whole retina, photoreceptor cell layer and the inner nuclear layer. 3- The numerical density (Nv) of photoreceptor cells and the cells of the inner nuclear layer.

The present study aims at detecting the aging changes and the effects of ethambutol on the different layers of the albino rat retina.

Twenty-four male albino rats were used in this study. The animals were divided into tow groups: A) The first group:

It included twelve animals divided into tow subgroups to investigate • aging changes on the retina.

1- The tlrst: consisted of six animals with two months of age (used as a control group).

2- The second: consisted of six animals with two years of age. B) The second group: It was used to detect the effects of ethambutol on the retina. Twelve animals constituted this group. Also this group subdivided into tow subgroups: 1- The first: contained six animals (2 months of age). Ethambutol. in a dose of 5mg/day, was given by a naso­ gastric tube for three months.

2- The second: used as a control group. This group contained six animals (2 months of age). The animals in this group were considered as non-treated animals.