[Pathologic response of the weak damaged retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)--affected by sodium iodate (NaIO3)]

We examined the cellular responses of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) damaged by sodium iodate. RPE was damaged by intravenous administration of sodium iodate, 10mg per kg body weight, in rats. This dose of the agent damaged RPE weakly. Twenty-four hours after the administration of sodium iodate, polystyrene particles were injected into the subretinal space trans-sclerally. Rats were sacrificed at 6 hours to 4 days after injection of particles. Twenty four hours after injection of sodium iodate, RPE were weakly damaged. The cell organelles were swollen and ruptured, but cell structures were not destroyed. Then particles were injected into the subretinal space, RPE did not phagocytize the particles until 24 hours after the injection of particles. After 48 hours, RPE showed proliferation. After 4 days, RPE formed thick multilayers in the subretinal space and transformed to spindle shapes, and RPE underwent metaplasia to fibroblast-like cells. However proliferation of RPE was not marked. RPE cells weakly damaged by sodium iodate showed delay in phagocytosis of the particles and decrease in proliferation and metaplasia to fibroblast-like cells.