Experimental corneal endotheliitis in rabbit.
OBJECTIVE
Corneal endotheliitis may cause permanent visual loss due to endothelial decompensation. The pathogenesis underlying this distinct clinical entity is not known. In the current study, a rabbit herpetic corneal endotheliitis model was made of induced anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID).


METHODS
One group of rabbits received left-eye intracameral inoculation of UV-inactivated herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 (strain McKrae). The second group received cell medium in the same manner as the first group. The third group subcutaneously received the same inoculum as the first group. Seven days later, all right eyes were intracamerally infected with 2.5 x 10(4) plaque-forming units of infectious HSV-1. Eyes were evaluated by slit lamp examination. Two weeks after infection, rabbits were killed, and right eyes were examined by immunohistochemical staining and electron microscopy. Aqueous humor was detected for HSV-1 DNA and antibody.


RESULTS
Nonspecific inflammation occurred in the anterior segments of the eyes from the second and third groups. In contrast, at 14 days after infection, the first group of rabbits showed a specific pattern of inflammation that greatly resembled clinical features of corneal endotheliitis. Viral antigen was detected only in the endothelial layer. Electron microscopy revealed enlarged intercellular gaps and infiltration of inflammatory cells that are characteristic of endothelial defects. HSV-1 DNA was detected at a significantly higher number in the aqueous humor aspirates from endotheliitis rabbits. In addition, ACAID was shown to be induced in the rabbits with corneal endotheliitis.


CONCLUSIONS
HSV-1 infection can induce corneal endotheliitis and ACAID may play the pivotal role in this entity.
Zheng
X
X
Lions Eye Research Laboratories, Louisiana State University, Eye Center, New Orleans 70112-2234, USA. xzheng@lsumc.edu
Yamaguchi
M
M
Goto
T
T
Okamoto
S
S
Ohashi
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000473:pathology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011817:Rabbits
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral