Effect of chloramphenicol on the development of the foetal eye: an experimental study

ABSTRACT

Chloramphinicol, a drug that produces adverse effects involving the eye, was intramuscularly [i.m.] administered to six pregnant female mice for three successive days starting on the 7th day of gestation aiming at screening its influence on the development of the eye. Three pregnant control female mice received only i.m. injections of sterile water on the same days of pregnancy as in experimental animals. Histological examination of eye specimens of experimental maternally-treated neonate mice with chloramphenicol revealed different degrees of corneal vacuolization. In some specimens corneal vacuolization was accompanied by discontinuity of the corneal endothelium and disruption of the posterior lamellae of the substantia propria and alterations in the contour of the lens. In other specimens apart from vacuolization and thickening of the cornea persistent connective tissue remnants were seen filling the anterior chamber. Moreover, different modalities of adherence between the anterior surface of the lens and the posterior surface of the cornea were indentified. These findings were discussed in relation to mesenchymal dysgenesis of the anterior segment of the eye specially Peter's anomaly