Studies on the Relationship between Tapetal Discoloration and Structure of Chemical Compounds

Abstract

To investigate the relationships between the tapetal discoloration and chemical structure activity, beagle dogs were given a single intravenous administration of metabolites or analogs of a synthesized chymotrypsin inhibitor, FK-401.

The alcoholic metabolite of FK-401 caused discoloration in the tapetum lucidum. Numerous alcoholic analogs with a tertiary amine side chain also caused tapetal discoloring. However, no histopathological changes were observed in the tapetum layer. Ethambutol had a similar action.

These results suggested that some alcoholic compounds with a tertiary amine could induce discoloration of the tapetum lucidum in the canine eye.