title: Selective uptake of iron oxide by rabbit conjunctival lymphoid follicles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether conjunctival lymphoid follicles are preferential sites for uptake of foreign material in the preocular tear film.
  
  
  METHODS
  Iron oxide suspension was applied to the eyes of New Zealand white rabbits for selected times, and the conjunctiva was examined histochemically for the presence of iron.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Iron was observed by histochemical staining within conjunctival follicle-associated epithelium at 1 hour and deep within the follicles at 4 hours after exposure. Iron was not seen within nonfollicular conjunctival epithelium or underlying substantia propria at any time after iron oxide application.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Iron oxide in the preocular tear film is taken up preferentially by conjunctival lymphoid tissue, supporting the hypothesis that mammalian conjunctival lymphoid follicles may participate in the acquired immune response to pathogens in the preocular tear film.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Molecular Pathogenesis of Eye Infection Research Center, Dean A. McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
authors.forename: Roger A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Astley
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chodosh
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000502:physiology; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; C000499:ferric oxide