ABSTRACT

The eyes produces about 2.75μl of aqueous humour per minute, it is a vital fluid in the eye as it constantly nourishes the structures in the eye. The eyes are constantly exposed to different forms of radiation and several studies have stated that some of these forms of radiation alter the physiological composition of the aqueous humour. X-rays are another form of these radiations that man is constantly exposed to, thus it is important to assess the effects of this radiation to the concentration of anions in the aqueous humour. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of X-ray on the Cl^- and HCO₃^- in aqueous humour of bovine, caprine and porcine postmortem.48 eyes from freshly slaughtered livestock of which 8 were bovine, caprine and porcine each were obtained from the government abattoir. The eyeballs were then separated into 3 groups and then exposed to 3 levels of X-ray doses (Low dose (0.04 mSV), medium dose (0.08 mSv) and high dose (0.1 mSv)) at the Radiology department, Health center in the University of Benin, Benin-City, using an X-ray machine. Measurement of Cl^- and HCO₃^- concentration was carried out in the Department of plant and Biotechnology of the University of Benin using a Flame photometer. It was observed that there was a variation of the anions with different doses of radiation with caprine showing a statistical significant difference in Cl- concentration in its aqueous when exposed to low, medium and high dose level of x-ray (p<0.05), porcine showed the least variation.