Effects of local anaesthetics on retinal spreading depression.

This study examines the effect of two local anaesthetics, benzocaine and lidocaine, on propagation, amplitude and duration of the slow potential change of spreading depression. The experiments were performed in isolated chick retina superfused with Ringer's solution. We observed, for both drugs, a dose-related decrease in all parameters analysed. The maximal effect on propagation was blockade of the reaction.