The Effect of Intravitreal Melatonin on Rabbit Retina

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of intravitreal melatonin on retina in rabbit. METHODS: In four pigmented rabbit, melatonin was intravitreally injected 100 mu g/0.1 ml, 300 mu g/0.1 ml concentration in left eye, DMSO was injected in right eye as control. we examined gross fundus finding and electroretinogram and then light and electronic microscopic findings at 24 hours and 1 week with both eye. RESULTS: intravitreally melatonin injected eye at 100 mu g/0.1 ml, 300 mu g/0.1 ml concentration and control eye at 1 day and 1 week, significant difference was not shown in gross fundus finding, electroretinogram, light and electronic microscopic finding. Additionally edema, toxic effect change was not found in retina. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreally injected melatonin has not influenced on retina grossly, histologically, physiologically at 100 mu g/0.1 ml and 300 mu g/0.1 ml concentration. Further study is required about toxic effect of melatonin over 300 mu g/0.1 ml concentration and clinical usefulness of melatonin in retina.