Purpose
To investigate whether treatment with artificial tears inhibits the development of experimental immune-mediated blepharoconjunctivitis (EC).Methods
Brown Norway rats were immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) or ragweed (RW) emulsified in complete Freund
s adjuvant. Fourteen days after immunization, the rats were challenged with the same antigen (Ag) in eye drops. Treated rats were administered artificial tears by eye drops immediately after, 15
min after, or 30
min after the Ag challenge. Treatment doses of 2, 4, or 8 drops per eye were evaluated. Twenty-four hours after the Ag challenge, the rats were killed and their eyes were harvested for histological studies.
Results
Treatment with artificial tears immediately after and 15
min after challenge with partially insoluble RW Ag suppressed infiltration of inflammatory cells into the conjunctiva. Inhibition was not observed at any time following challenge with OVA Ag, which is a soluble protein. The treatment dose of artificial tears administered did not affect the extent of inhibition of EC following challenge with either Ag.
Conclusions
Treatment with artificial tears by eye drops inhibited the development of EC induced by the partially insoluble RW Ag when administered within 15
min of the Ag challenge.
Jpn J Ophthalmol 2004;48:530–534 © Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2004
Key words artificial tears - Brown Norway rat - experimental immune-mediated blepharoconjunctivitis - ovalbumin - ragweed