Effects of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (liquid ecstasy) on the eye development of the chick embryo

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), a precursor to gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), was initially employed as an anesthetic. As a relatively novel drug, few people are aware of its harmful effects and few studies have been undertaken to investigate its long-term effects or its action on developing tissues. We performed an experimental study on the action of GHB on the developing eye, an organ very closely related to the development of the CNS. Chick embryos were treated with 20% or 30% dilutions of 100 μl GHB at 7 (30-31 HH) and 11 (37 HH) days of incubation (i.e., two doses per group), and the effects were observed at 21 days of incubation (45 HH). An ophthalmologic ultrasonography device (Hondex A/B SCAN IS-500) was used to measure different eye parameters (corneal thickness; posterior surface of cornea – anterior surface of lens; anteroposterior diameter of lens; anteroposterior diameter of eye). We observed significant differences between the treated and control groups as regards the thickness of the cornea and lens, and in the anteroposterior diameter of the eye. The present results demonstrate a possible effect of GHB on development.