Effects of antibiotics on the in vitro ERG of the albino rabbit

This study describes the effects of penicillin G (PC-G) potassium, PC-G sodium, cloxacillin sodium (MCIPC), disodium sulbenicillin (SBPC), cefazolin sodium (CEZ) and cefsulodin sodium (CFS) on the in-vitro electroretinogram (ERG) of the albino rabbit.The b-wave and oscillatory potentials (OPs) were unchanged by 0.1 mM PC-G potassium or PC-G sodium. The OPs were slightly suppressed by 0.3 mM of either drug. While the a- and b-waves were not deteriorated, the OPs were greatly suppressed by 1.0 mM concentration. The effect of PC-G on the ERG was characterized by a selective suppression of the OPs. The b-wave and OPs were not suppressed by 0.03 mM MCIPC. They were slightly suppressed by 0.05 mM MCIPC. The a-wave, b-wave and OPs were not deteriorated by 1.0 mM SBPC. The b-wave and OPs were suppressed by 3.0 mM or 6.0 mM SBPC respectively. These changes appeared to be dose-dependent. Since the b-wave and OPs were concomitantly suppressed by both MCIPC and SBPC, these antibiotics, unlike PC-G, did not selectively suppress the OPs. The b-wave and OPs were unchanged by 0.1 mM CEZ or CFS. The OPs were slightly suppressed by 0.3mM CEZ or CFS. CEZ or CFS of 1.0 mM did not deteriorate the a- and b-waves, but selectively suppressed the OPs. The effects of CEZ and CFS on the ERG were characterized by a selective suppression of the OPs. The above-described changes in the ERG were reversible.