[An experimental study on immune mechanism after alkali burn in the anterior segment of rabbit eye].
OBJECTIVE
To study the immunologic mechanism of corneal ulceration after alkali burn.


METHODS
55 rabbits with alkali burn in right eye were randomly divided into two groups. In group I (31 animals), the level of circulating immune complex (CIC), the rate of red blood cell C3b receptor complex rosette (RBC-C3bRR) and immune complex rosette (RBC-ICR) were measured respectively at 7, 14, 21, 35, 49 days after alkali burn. In Group 2 (24 animals), the immune complex was detected by means of immunofluorescence (IF) and immunogold-silver staining (IGSS) in burned tissues at 21 days after burn. Histopathologic changes were also observed under light microscope.


RESULTS
CIC, the rate of RBC-C3bRR and RBC-ICR were markedly increased 14 to 21 days after burn. In the mean time, the deposition of immune complex was found in burned tissues and the accumulation of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) was observed at the base of corneal ulcer.


CONCLUSIONS
The immune mechanism indeed participates in the pathogenesis of corneal ulceration and also aggravates the progress of ulceration on the base of chemical injury.
Lin
R
R
Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Hai Hospital, Second Military Medical University.
Yang
D
D
Guo
F
F
D000818:Animals; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000378:metabolism*; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000276:immunology; D003315:Cornea / Q000276:immunology; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000276:immunology*; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D017463:Receptors, Complement 3b / Q000097:blood*
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D017463:Receptors, Complement 3b