• Department of Ophthalmology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi′an 710032, China;
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Objective To investigate the possible damaging effect of infrasound on ultrastructure and permeability of rats′blood-retinal barrier (BRB). Methods Twenty mature male rats, averagely divided into 5 groups according to the exposure duration, were exposed to infrasound at a 16 Hz frequency and 130 dB sound pressure level in a pressure chamber for 2 hours per day. After exposed for 0, 1 day, 7, 14, and 21 days respectively, ultrastructural changes of rats′ BRB were observed through injection of lanthanum (La) nitrate solution, which was used as a tracer to demonstrate the breakdown of the BRB.Results With prolonging the duration of infrasound exposure, BRB structure lesion, chondriosome tumefaction, endoplasmic reticulum expandedness, membrane disc damage, retinal pigment epithelial cells distortion and putrescence, karyotheca expandedness, and La leakage on each level of retina aggravated gradually.Conclusion Infrasound may cause the breakdown of BRB, and the lesions aggravated with prolonged infrasound exposure time. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,2003,19:46-48)

Citation: CAO Yan,QIU Ping,HUI Yannian. Damages of blood-retinal barrier ultrastructure after infrasound exposure. Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases, 2003, 19(1): 46-48. doi: Copy