Myelo-optic neuropathy caused by aconitine in rabbit model.

A single dose of aconitine (0.6 mg/kg), the principal constituent of aconite, was administered intraperitoneally in order to evaluate its toxic effects on the visual system of a rabbit model. The typical pattern in which the alteration in the visual evoked potential occurred after an aconitine injection consisted of a delay in the onset and peak latency, and a reduction in the amplitude. Histopathologically, there was damage to the myelin sheath of the visual pathway, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. These findings suggest that a toxic dose of aconitine may cause myelo-optic neuropathy in rabbits.