Experimental degeneration of the retina. II. The lesion produced by bromoacetate: ophthalmoscopic and histological features.

Twelve adult rabbits of mixed stock weighing 1[5 to 2 5 kg. received intravenous injections of from 16 to 32 mg./kg. sodium bromoacetate. In three animals the dose was repeated on the following day. The nine survivors were killed for histological examination 3 to 21 days after injection. Two animals received combined injections of sodium bromoacetate (16 mg./kg.) and sodium iodoacetate (16 mg./kg.) and were killed 7 days later. All doses are quoted in terms of sodium salt. The solutions for injection were prepared immediately before use by neutralizing the free acid and making up to volume with phosphate buffer. The eyes were fixed in acid Zenker's solution immediately after death. After removal of the lens, paraffin sections were cut and stained by ordinary haematoxylin and eosin, and by Mallory's phosphotungstic acid haematoxylin.