An attempt has been made to determine whether anionic, cationic and non-ionic surfactants and other chemicals opacify the various layers of bovine isolated corneas to the same or to differing degrees. In the intact cornea the opacifying ability of surfactants was in the following order: cationic>anionic>non-ionic. The chemicals tested spanned the range from virtually inactive to very active. However, in the isolated stroma, the anionic surfactants caused considerably more opacity than either the cationic or non-ionic compounds. The results indicate that cationic surfactants primarily opacify the epithelium. It is suggested that opacification of the cornea is due to precipitation of protein in its various layers. The surfactants opacify egg white solutions in the same order of potency as in the cornea, but within the anionic group the order of opacification produced was the reverse of that in the cornea.
DraizeJ.H., WoodwardG., and CalveryH.O. (1944). Methods for the study of irritation and toxicity of substances applied topically to the skin and mucous membranes.Journal of Pharmacology82, 377–390.
2.
BurtonA.B.G. (1972). A method for the objective assessment of eye irritation.Food and Cosmetics Toxicology10, 209–217.
3.
ScharpfL.G.Jr., HillI.D., and KellyR.E. (1972). Relative eye injury potential of heavy duty phosphate and non-phosphate laundry detergents.Food and Cosmetics Toxicology10, 829–837.
4.
EdelhauserH.F., AntoineM.E., PedersonH.J., HiddemanJ.W., and HarrisR.G. (1983). Intraocular safety evaluation of ethylene oxide and sterilant residues.Journal of Toxicology, Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology2, 7–39.
5.
DormansJ.A.M.A., & Van LogtenM.J. (1982). The effects of ophthalmic preservatives on corneal epithelium of the rabbit: a scanning electron microscopical study.Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology62, 251–261.
6.
MuirC.K. (1984). A simple method to assess surfactant-induced bovine corneal opacity in vitro: preliminary findings.Toxicology Letters22, 199–203.
7.
MuirC.K. (1985). Opacity of bovine cornea in vitro induced by surfactants and industrial chemicals compared with ocular irritancy in vivo.Toxicology Letters24, 157–162.
8.
IgarashiH. (1986). With which component of the bovine isolated cornea does sodium lauryl sulphate react to produce opacity?Toxicology Letters32, 157–162.
9.
MuirC.K. (1987). Surfactant-induced opacity of bovine isolated cornea: an epithelial phenomenon?Toxicology Letters, in press.
10.
LowryO.H., RosenbroughN.J., FarrA.L., and RandallR.J. (1951). Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent.Journal of Biological Chemistry193, 265–275.
11.
ClaytonR.M., GreenK., WilsonM., ZenirA., JackJ., and SearleL. (1985). The penetration of detergents into adult and infant eyes: possible hazards of additives to ophthalmic preparations.Food and Cosmetics Toxicology23, 239–246.
12.
KawerauE., and OttH. (1961). The soluble proteins of the cornea: paper and immunoelectrophoretic studies.Experimental Eye Research1, 137–144.
13.
FevoldH.L. (1951). Egg proteins. In Advances in Protein Chemistry, Vol. VI (ed. AnsonM.L., EdsallJ.T., BaileyK.), pp. 187–252. New York and London: Academic Press.
14.
BullH.B., and NeurathH. (1937). The denaturation and hydration of proteins. II. Surface denaturation of egg albumin.Journal of Biological Chemistry118, 163–175.
15.
AnsonM.L. (1939). Denaturation of proteins by detergents and bile salts.Science, New York, 90, 256–257.
16.
LundgrenH.P., ElamD.W., & O'ConnellR.A. (1943). Electrophoretic study of the action of alkylbenzenesulfonate detergents on egg albumin.Journal of Biological Chemistry149, 183–193.
17.
MiyazawaK., OgawaM., and MitsuiT. (1984). The physico-chemical properties and protein denaturation potential of surfactant mixtures.International Journal of Cosmetic Science6, 33–46.
18.
FewA.V., OttewillR.H., and ParreiraH.C. (1955). The interaction between bovine plasma albumin and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide.Biochimica et Biophysica Acta18, 136–137.
19.
BigelowC.C., and SonenbergM. (1962). The effect of dodecyl sulfate on the ultraviolet spectra of proteins.Biochemistry1, 197–204.
20.
ReynoldsJ.A., HerbertS., PoletH., and SteinhardtJ. (1967). The binding of divers detergent anions to bovine serum albumin.Biochemistry6, 937–947.
21.
ShadduckJ.A., EverittJ., and MeccoliR.A. (1985). In vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo eye irritation of six surface active agents.Soap/Cosmetics/Chemical Specialities61, 36–39, 56–57.
22.
ErnstR., and ArdittiJ. (1980). Biological effects of surfactants. IV. Effects of non-ionics and amphoterics on HeLa cells.Toxicology15, 233–242.
23.
TanfordC. (1968). Protein denaturation. In Advances in Protein Chemistry, Vol. XXIII (ed. AnfinsenC.B.Jr., AnsonM.L., EdsallJ.T., RichardsF.M.), pp. 121–282. New York and London: Academic Press.
