Ocular Toxicity of Systemic and Topical Exposure to Butyl 2-Chloroethyl Sulfide

摘要

Systemic exposure to the vesicant butyl 2-chloroethyl sulfide (BCS) producessignificant metabolic and morphologic aberrations in the eyes of rats. Four hours after injection of (14C)BCS, with the exception of the pooled aqueous and vitreous humors, the highest level of radioactivity was found in the retina, followed by choroid/sclera, lens, and cornea. At 24 hr after injection of BCS the retinas showed an edematous swelling of the inner layers. At 48 hr, the outer segments of photoreceptors from untreated control rats were normal while those from rats exposed to BCS were disrupted. Some of the vessels of the choroid contained large clusters of activated platelets. These effects were preceded by a significant increase in thiobarbituric acid-reactive products observed in the eyes after a 30, 60, and 240 min exposure to BCS.