Niemann-Pick disease-like inclusions caused by a hypocholesteremic agent

AY9944, an inhibitor of cholesterol biosynthesis, was injected into albino rats and the ocular tissue was studied by light and electron microscopy. Abundant lamellar inclusion bodies accumulated in various cells of the eye, especially in the ganglion cells of the retina and glial cells of the optic nerve. Prolonged administration of this drug resulted in degeneration of retinal ganglion cells and oligodendroglial cells of the optic nerve. Micro-organelles of the inclusion body-laden cells were otherwise normal in their appearance. The electron microscopic appearance of these inclusion bodies and their distribution in the ocular tissues closely resembled those of Niemann-Pick diseasees.