Albino versus pigmented animals for ocular toxicity testing.

The capability of uveal and retinal tissue to accumulate exogenously administered materials, coupled with the existence of anatomic, physiologic and biochemical ocular abnormalities in albino animals, evokes the question of whether albino animals are suitable for testing novel compounds for untoward ocular effects. Examples of special susceptibilities of either pigmented or non-pigmented animals to novel compounds exist. The best way to avoid unanticipated oculotoxic effects from the administration of novel compounds is to use both pigmented and unpigmented strains.