title: Local ocular immunotherapy for experimental allergic conjunctivitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We studied the efficacy of eyedrops as local ocular immunotherapy against experimental allergic conjunctivitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Guinea pigs were sensitized with an intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin (OA). Three weeks after the sensitization, a low concentration (10 microg/mL) of OA eyedrops was administered once a day for 3 weeks. Six weeks after the sensitization, an allergic inflammation was provoked with 20 mg/mL of OA eyedrops.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In conjunctival clinical scores 30 minutes after the allergen challenge, there was no significant difference between the controls and the treated group. The total number of inflammatory cells in the conjunctiva 8 hours after the allergen challenge was significantly decreased in the treated group (60.8 +/- 23.2 cells/field) compared with the control group (199.1 +/- 83.4 cells/field). Eosinophils in the conjunctiva 24 hours after the allergen challenge were also significantly decreased in the treated group (22.1 +/- 15.5 cells/field) compared with the control group (50.3 +/- 15.0 cells/field).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, local ocular immunotherapy mainly suppressed the late phase reaction of allergic inflammation. These results coincide with previous studies of immunotherapy in which a subcutaneous injection was used. Local ocular immunotherapy is effective against experimental allergic conjunctivitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Machida
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakagami
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000473:pathology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010047:Ovalbumin