Enzymologic and histologic investigations in normal and pressure-ischemic retina of rabbits.

Histologic investigations together with histochemical and photometric measurements of enzyme activities were performed in retina of rabbits, whose blood supply had been totally interrupted for 1h. A retinal edema developed affecting the internal layers between the inner limiting membrane and the internal plexiform and ganglion cell layer. Although this edema was quite remarkable at the posterior pole of the eye, it diminished toward the periphery, disappearing near the ora serrata. The activities of the following enzymes were investigated: hexokinase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, aldolase, glyceraldehydephosphate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, ATPase, and phosphorylase. The most striking finding was the total disappearance of phosphorylase activity under pressure ischemia. ATPase and aldolase showed a decreased activity in the ischemic retina, and malate dehydrogenase a slightly diminished one. Concerning the other enzymes, no significant differences between normal and ischemic retina were observed.