Abstract
Background The use of opioids among people of the young and working age has sharply increased
in recent years simultaneously with the outbreak observed in the general population.
Objective To determine the trigger mechanism of the destructive effect of narcotic analgesics
on the ultrastructural level of the vascular tunic of the eyeball. Methods: This experimental
study was performed on 26 male rats aged 3.0 months and body weight 160–180 g with
daily intramuscular injection of Nalbuphine hydrochloride during 4 weeks. The material
for the study was represented by ultramicroscopic sections of the vascular tunic of
the eyeball.
Results In comparison with the control group there was observed swelling of the cytoplasm
and the nuclei of endotheliocytes, considerably narrowed lumens of the capillaries.
Plasmolemma of endotheliocytes forms protrusions into the lumen of endotheliocytes
forming microvilli. Changes of destructive nature took place in the elements of the
smooth endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial complex. Signs that are characteristic
of sclerosis were found in the surrounding connective tissue complex. In particular,
lesions of endothelium and basement membrane of the elements of hemomicrocirculatory
bloodstream, epithelium of the ciliary processes, cellular and non-cellular elements
of the iris and the uvea proper have studied.
Conclusion The databased on the experimental model allow extrapolation the results obtained
to humans. It is confirmed that the development of angiopathy is the trigger mechanism
of the destructive effect of narcotic analgesics.
Keywords
analgesics - opioids - capillaries - endothelium - animal experiment
