title: The effects of immunosuppression on the development of (experimental) cataract.
abstract: The immunogenical response to heteroimmunization and its effects on the lens were studied in 10 healthy young rabbits who received human lens antigen in Freund's adjuvant, according to a schedule. Half the immunized rabbits were treated with prednisolone (the equivalent of 10 mg/kg) daily. All five animals who did not receive prednisolone developed precipitating antibodies to human lens protein, whereas only one out of the five prednisolone-fed animals developed antibodies. Slitlamp examination of the lenses at 16 weeks and 32 weeks post-immunization revealed small cortical lens opacities in three of the animals who also showed lens antibodies in their sera. None of the antibody-negative animals showed any lens lesions (prednisolone treated).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: I I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Angunawela
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology*; D003459:Crystallins / Q000276:immunology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000276:immunology*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D003459:Crystallins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011239:Prednisolone