Biochemical and histological modifications of the rat retina induced by the cholinergic neurotoxin AF64A.

Intraocular injections of ethylcholine mustard aziridinium ion (AF64A) in the rat depressed retinal choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity in a dose-dependent manner without any significant change in the content of amino acid neurotransmitters GABA, glycine, aspartate and glutamate. ChAT reduction was already detected 24 h after the injection and persisted for at least one month. In vitro AF64A also inhibited retinal ChAT activity. No changes in muscarinic receptor sites were detected. The histological study showed light cells, characterized by cytoplasmic swelling in the innermost part of the inner nuclear layer and in the ganglion cell layer. We suggest that these light cells are the cholinergic retinal neurons affected by the toxin. In addition, dark cells in the inner nuclear layer, large empty spaces in the outer nuclear layer, inflammatory infiltrate and vascular alterations were also observed in treated retinas. Choline uptake systems in photoreceptors and in endothelial cells or cholinergic perivascular nerve endings may explain the lesions observed in the outer nuclear layer and the vascular alterations.