Electroretinal changes in the presence of a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor.

A specific carbonic anhydrase activity inhibitor (methazolamide) was injected into one vitreous body each of 4 New Zealand White rabbits. Electroretinograms (ERG) were recorded before and several times after the methazolamide injection. The stimulus levels maximized the rod and cone response characteristics of the rabbit ERG. The effects of methazolamide were followed over 5 h. During this time, the electroretinograms showed a decline in amplitude of both a and b waves at both stimulus levels. The data support the involvement of carbonic anhydrase in the excitatory physiological events in the retina. Preliminary evidence indicates a slow recovery of the carbonic-anhydrase-inhibited ERG.