Hyperosmolarity response of ocular standing potential as a clinical test for retinal pigment epithelium activity. Normative data.

The standing potential of the eye is decreased by intravenous administration of hypertonic solutions. This hyperosmolarity-induced response has been recorded in normal subjects by the use of electro-oculography (EOG) in the dark. An intravenous administration of Fructmanit (1.4 X 10(3) mOsmol) (150 approximately 500 ml, 2.37 approximately 9.70 ml/kg, 0.08 approximately 0.36 ml/kg/min) was used to evoke the hyperosmolarity response. The amplitude of the response was expressed in percentage, V0-Vmin/V0 X 100, where V0 is the base value of the EOG before administration of the hypertonic solution and Vmin is a minimum EOG amplitude after administration. The distribution of the amplitude of the hyperosmolarity response was approximated by the normal distribution in normal subjects. The minimum, the maximum, the mean and the standard deviation of the amplitude of the hyperosmolarity response were respectively 34.2%, 52.3%, 42.6% and 4.6% in normal subjects. The normal range of the hyperosmolarity response would be 33.4 approximately 51.8% (M +/- 2SD). The hyperosmolarity response, which originates mainly in the retinal pigment epithelium, is a useful new quantitative and specific test of the activity of the retinal pigment epithelium in clinical practice.