Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ultrastrukturelle Veränderungen am Hornhautepithel nach Oberflächenanaesthesie

Ultrastructure of corneal epithelium after topical anesthesia

  • Published:
Albrecht von Graefes Archiv für klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The present study deals with fine structural changes in rat corneal epithelium observed after short-term topical anesthesia. Different local anesthetics (benoxinate 0.4% and 1%, cocaine 4%, lidocaine 2% and tetracaine, 0.5%) were instilled from 5 to 11 times, at intervals of 30 minutes. Slit-lamp examination of the corneas after the last application of the drug revealed a fine corneal stippling without erosion in all cases. Ultrastructural examination showed a loss of microplicae and microvilli on the surface, under both the scanning and the transmission electron microscope (Figs. 1, 5, 7, 14–16) after all the local anesthetics tested. The cell membranes were interrupted at some sites and the characteristics of unit-membranes partially disappeared (Figs. 5, 7). These observations might indicate that the site of action of local anesthetics is the cell membrane itself. Clumping of tonofilaments (Figs. 7, 8) is possibly connected with a deleterious effect of local anesthetics on the stability of these structures and might be the reason for the changes in the desmosomes, which are reduced both in number and in tightness (Fig. 5). Increased desquamation of epithelial cells was observed (Figs. 11, 12, 19). There was no basic difference in the kind of ultrastructural changes, nor was there any clear-cut difference in the severity of the lesions caused by the different local anesthetics used in this study.

Zusammenfassung

Es wird über transmissions- und rasterelektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an den oberflächlichen Epithelzellen der Rattencornea nach kurzdauernder Lokalanaesthetica-Applikation (Cocain 4%, Lidocain 2%, Oxybuprocain 0,4 und 1% und Tetracain 0,5%) berichtet. Prinzipielle Unterschiede in den feingeweblichen Veränderungen der Cornea nach der Instillation der verschiedenen geprüften Lokalanaesthetica konnten nicht gefunden werden. Die zuerst auftretenden Läsionen betrafen Veränderungen an der Cornealoberfläche, welche ihre Mikroplicaestruktur weitgehend verlor, deren Zellmembranen stellenweise unterbrochen oder verdickt waren und deren Strukturmerkmale als typische „unit-membranes“ verwischt waren. Im Cytoplasma fanden sich Vacuolisierungen vor allem in Kernnähe, welche ein charakteristisches rasterelektronenmikroskopisches Bild abgaben; ferner Verklumpungen von Tonofibrillen, deren Stabilität durch die Lokalanaestheticaeinwirkung herabgesetzt sein könnte. Die Befunde sprechen für einen direkten pharmakologischen Angriffspunkt der Lokalanaesthetica an den Zellmembranen im Sinne einer „membrane-interaction“.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literatur

  • Ariëns, E. J.: Advances in drug research, p. 235. London-New York: Academic Press 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Behrendt, Th.: Experimental secondary effects of topical anesthesia of the cornea. Amer. J. Ophthal. 44, 74–77 (1957).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Büchi, J., Koelzer, P. P.: Untersuchung des Eiweiß-Bindungsvermögens einiger Lokalanaesthetica. Pharm. Acta Helv. 41, 607–612 (1966).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Büchs, H.: Experimentell-histologische Studien zur Einwirkung von Lokalanästhetika auf die Weichteilwunde. (Abstract.) Dsch. zahnärztl. Z. 21, 139–144 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Danielli, J. F.: Surface phenomena in chemistry and biology, p. 246. London-New York: Pergamon Press 1958.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doden, W., Makabe, R.: Transitorischer Visusverlust nach retrobulbärer Anästhesie. Ophthalmologica (Basel) (Suppl.) 158, 441–447 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, D. L., Paton, D.: Keratitis from misuse of corneal anesthetics. New Engl. J. Med. 279, 396–399 (1968).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fleckenstein, A.: Der Kalium-Natrium-Austausch als Energieprinzip in Muskel und Nerv. Berlin-Göttingen-Heidelberg: Springer 1955.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fußgänger, R., Schaumann, O.: Zit. nach Steiner, L., Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Arch. exp. Path. Pharmak. 160, 53–61 (1931).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gnädinger, M. C., Leuenberger, P. M.: Ultrastructural observations on cultured corneal epithelial cells. (Abstract.) Exp. Eye Res. (1972) (in press).

  • Gundersen, T., Liebman, S. D.: Effect of local anesthetics on regeneration of corneal epithelium. Arch. Ophthal. 31, 29–33 (1944).

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, E. J., Ochs, S.: Effects of sodium extrusion and local anesthetics on muscle membrane resistance and potential. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 187, 5–21 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Henrotte, J., Weekers, J.-F.: Etude clinique des lésions cornéennes dues à l'application locale prolongée d'anesthésiques. Arch. Ophtal. (Paris) 32, 449–456 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hermann, H., Moses, S., Friedenwald, J. S.: Influence of Pantocaine hydrochloride and Chlorbutanol on respiration and glycolysis of cornea. Arch. Ophthal. 28, 652–660 (1942).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann, F.: The surface of the epithelial cells of the cornea under the scanning microscope. Ophthalmic Res. 3, 207–214 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kavanau, J. L.: Structure and function of biological membranes. San Francisco: Holden-Day Inc. 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaye, G. I., Pappas, G. D.: I. The fine structure of the rabbit cornea and the uptake and transport of colloidal particles by the cornea in vivo. J. Cell Biol. 12, 457–479 (1982).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kinoshita, J. H.: Some aspects of the carbohydrate metabolism of the cornea. Invest. Ophthal. 1, 178–186 (1932).

    Google Scholar 

  • Knolle, G.: Schleimhautläsionen an der Unterlippe nach Lokalanästhesie. Dtsch. zahnärztl. Z. 21, 139–144 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Küchle, H. J.: Zur Wirkung der Oberflächenanästhetika auf die Regeneration des Hornhautepithels. Klin. Mbl. Augenheilk. 126, 313–322 (1955).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leuenberger, P. M.: Die Stereoultrastruktur der Cornealoberfläche der Ratte. Albrecht v. Graefes Arch. klin. exp. Ophthal. 180, 182–192 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Leuenberger, P. M.: Lanthanum hydroxide tracer studies on corneal epithelium. Exp. Eye Res. 13 (1972) (in press).

  • Leuenberger, P., Stangos, N., Korol, S.: Ultrastructure and electrophysiology of retina and optic nerve after intraocular Xylocaine administration. (Abstract.) Exp. Eye Res. 12, 375–376 (1971).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ling, G. N. A.: A physical theory of the living state: The association-induction hypothesis. New York: Blaisdell Publ. Co. 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  • Löfström, B., Wennberg, A., Widén, L.: Late disturbances in nerve function after block with local anaesthetic agents—an electroneurographic study. Acta anaesth. scand. 10, 111–112 (1966).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marr, W. G., Wood, R., Senterfit, L., Sigelman, S.: Effect of topical anaesthetics on regeneration of corneal epithelium. Amer. J. Ophthal. 43, 606–610 (1957).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Möbius, W.: Untersuchungen zum Wirkungsmechanismus der Lokalanästhetika. Inaug.-Diss., Frankfurt/Main 1966.

  • Nachmansohn, D.: Basic aspects of nerve activity explained by biochemical analysis. Amer. J. Med. 179, 639–643 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Parpart, A. K., Ballentine, R.: Modern trends in physiology and biochemistry, p. 135. New York: Academic Press 1952.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson, J. D.: The structure and function of subcellular components, p. 3. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmöger, E.: Pantocainschäden. Klin. Mbl. Augenheilk. 122, 527–535 (1953).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Skalska-Rakowska, J.: The effect of cocaine and tetracaine (Pantocaine) on histochemically demonstrable phosphatases in the rat corneal epithelium. Folia histochem. cytochem. 6, 269–280 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Skalska-Rakowska, J.: Cytochemical and ultrastructural studies of the influence of cocaine and tetracaine on rat's corneal epithelium. Klin. oczna 40, 449–455 (1970).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smelser, G., Ozanics, V.: Effect of local anaesthetics on cell division and migration following thermal burns of cornea. Arch. Ophthal. 34, 271–277 (1945).

    Google Scholar 

  • Smolen, V. F., Siegel, F. P.: Procaine interaction with the corneal surface and its relation to anesthesia. J. pharm. Sci. 57, 378–389 (1968).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stangos, N., Rey, P., Leuenberger, P., Korol, S.: The effect of xylocaine on the rabbit's retina: Averaged ERG and electronmicroscopy. Vision Res. 11, 1208–1209 (1971).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steiner, L.: Klinisch-experimentelle Untersuchungen über die Wirkung einiger Oberflächenanästhetika auf die Hornhaut. Klin. Mbl. Augenheilk. 148, 536–540 (1966).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vorbrodt, A., Skalska-Rakowska, J.: Histochemical effect of cocaine and tetracaine (Pantocaine) on the oxidative enzymes in the rat corneal epithelium. Folia histochem. cytochem. 6, 37–48 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wisniewski, H., Shelanski, M. L., Terry, R. D.: Effects of mitotic spindle inhibitors on neurotubules and neurofilaments in anterior horn cells. J. Cell Biol. 38, 224–229 (1968).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zipf, H. F.: Die Wirkungsmechanismen der Lokalanästhetika. Pharm. Acta Helv. 42, 480–516 (1967).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinique Universitaire d'Ophtalmologie de Genève, Schweiz

    Peter M. Leuenberger

Authors
  1. Peter M. Leuenberger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Diese Untersuchungen wurden mit Unterstützung des Fonds National Suisse de la Recherche Scientifique (No. 3.300.70) durchgeführt.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Leuenberger, P.M. Ultrastrukturelle Veränderungen am Hornhautepithel nach Oberflächenanaesthesie. Albrecht von Graefes Arch. Klin. Ophthalmol. 186, 73–90 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00410081

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00410081

Search

Navigation