Lipoperoxide formation in the retina in ocular siderosis.

Insertion of iron nail into the vitreous cavity provoke the formation of lipoperoxide in the retina. In acord with the increase in lipoperoxide in the retina, ERG began to decrease. In vitro experiment using isolated retina, lipoperoxide was found to be increased in the presence of ferric or ferrous ions, while it was inhibited by adding antioxidants or ethylenediamine tetraacetate. From these results, direct cause of retinal degeneration in siderosis could be ascribed to the formation of lipoperosice by iron-ions liberated from the piece of iron, resulting into the degeneration of the visual cell layers of the retina.