Further Studies Concerning the Accumulation of Polycyclic Compounds on Uveal Melanin

¹ Section of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, the University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill.

Results are presented which show that chlorpromazine and chloroquine may be recovered from uveal pigment in vitro without change. Chlorpromazine given to living rabbits is recovered from the uvea partly as the sulfoxide. When acridine orange is used to wash uveal pigment granules on which chlorpromazine has been adsorbed, a small portion of the drug is removed. When chlorpromazine is offered to uveal pigment on which acridine orange has been adsorbed, much less drug is taken up than by untreated pigment granules. Similarly, acridine orange given to the living rabbit inhibits subsequent uptake of chlorpromazine. The possible prophylactic and therapeutic use of chlorpromazine against toxic phenothiazines and chloroquine compounds is discussed.