Methyl alcohol induced acidosis and retinal changes in rats

ABSTRACT

The effect of acute methyl alcohol poisoning in male albino rats was investigated. Rats injected intraperitoneally with median lethal [6 ml/kg body weight] and lethal [10 ml/kg body weight] doses of absolute methanol showed a significant decrease in their blood pH values indicating acidosis. Methanol estimation indicated that high concentrations remained in the blood twenty four hours post- injection of the median lethal dose. In addition, microscopic examination of the retina showed edema and considerable damage to the photoreceptors, nerve cells of the inner nuclear layer and ganglion cells, which may result in impairment of vision. It was suggested that rats can be used as experimental models for methanol poisoning and the resulting ocular toxicity studies