Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier in S-antigen-induced uveoretinitis in rats

  • Laboratory Investigations
  • Published:
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis was induced in Lewis rats by footpad injection of purified, bovine retinal soluble antigen (S-antigen) with complete Freund's adjuvant. Control animals received adjuvant only. At the peak of ocular inflammation the animals received an intravenous injection of the tracer horseradish peroxidase, and the eyes were removed and processed for peroxidase cytochemistry. A breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier occurred at the level of the retinal venules. Peroxidase reaction product was demonstrable in the interendothelial tight junctions and in the perivascular spaces. Heavy infiltration of inflammatory cells was also found in and around the venular wall. The endothelial cells of venules and capillaries were hypertrophied and showed swollen endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus as well as increased numbers of ribosomes and cytoplasmic fibrils; pericytes and smooth-muscle cells showed a similar synthetic phenotype and the basal lamina of these cells was thickened.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bara R de, Kusuda M, Caspers-Velu L, Sanui H, Chan C-C, Kuwabara T, Nussenblatt RB, Ger I (1989) Cryopexy enhances experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) in rats. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 30:2165–2173

    Google Scholar 

  2. Cramer EB, Milks LC, Ojakian GK (1980) Transepithelial migration of human neutrophils: an in vitro model system. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 77:4069–4073

    Google Scholar 

  3. Cunha-Vaz J (1980) The blood-retinal barriers. Plenum Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  4. Das ND, Ulshafer RJ, Zam ZS, Leverenz VR, Shichi H (1984) Radioimmunocytochemical localization of retinal S-antigen with monoclonal antibodies. J Histochem Cytochem 32:834–838

    Google Scholar 

  5. Dvorak AM, Mihm MC Jr, Dvorak HF (1976) Morphology of delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions in man: II. Ultrastructural alterations affecting the microvasculature and the tissue mast cells. Lab Invest 34:179–191

    Google Scholar 

  6. Faure JP (1980) Autoimmunity and the retina. Curr Top Eye Res 2:215–302

    Google Scholar 

  7. Fujikawa L, Chan C-C, McAllister C, Gery I, Hooks JJ, Detrick B, Nussenblatt RB (1987) Retinal vascular endothelium expresses fibronectin and class II histocompatibility complex antigens in experimental autoimmune uveitis. Cell Immunol 106:139–150

    Google Scholar 

  8. Gery I, Mochizuki M, Nussenblatt RB (1986) Retinal specific antigens and immunopathogenic processes they provoke. Prog Retinal Res 5:75–109

    Google Scholar 

  9. Graham RC, Karnovsky MJ (1966) The early stages of absorption of injected horseradish peroxidase in the proximal tubules of mouse kidney. Ultrastructural cytochemistry by a new technique. J Histochem Cytochem 14:291–302

    Google Scholar 

  10. Hammersen F, Hammersen E (1987) The ultrastructure of endothelial gap-formation and leukocyte emigration. Prog Appl Microcirc 12:1–34

    Google Scholar 

  11. Kozak Y de, Thillaye B, Renard G, Faure JP (1978) Hyperacute form of experimental autoimmune uveo-retinitis in Lewis rats; electron microscopic study. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 208:135–142

    Google Scholar 

  12. Kozak Y de, Sakai J, Thillaye B, Faure JP (1981) S antigen-induced experimental autoimmune uveo-retinitis in rats. Curr Eye Res 1:327–337

    Google Scholar 

  13. Majno G, Palade GE (1961) Studies on inflammation: 1. The effect of histamine and serotonin on vascular permeability: an electron microscopic study. J Biophys Biochem Cytol 11:571–606

    Google Scholar 

  14. Majno G, Palade GE (1961) Studies on inflammation: II. The site of action of histamine and serotonin along the vascular tree: a topographic study. J Biophys Biochem Cytol 11:607–626

    Google Scholar 

  15. Nussenblatt RB, Kuwabara T, deMonasterio F, Wacker WB (1981) S-antigen uveitis in primates. A new model for human disease. Arch Ophthalmol 99:1090–1092

    Google Scholar 

  16. Pober JS (1988) Cytokine-mediated activation of vascular endothelium. Physiology and pathology. Am J Pathol 133:426–433

    Google Scholar 

  17. Simionescu M, Simionescu N, Palade GE (1975) Segmental differentiations of cell junctions in the vascular endothelium. The microvasculature. J Cell Biol 67:863–886

    Google Scholar 

  18. Wacker WB, Kalsow CM (1973) Autoimmune uveo-retinitis in the rat sensitized with retina photoreceptor cell antigen. Int Arch Allergy 45:582–592

    Google Scholar 

  19. Willms-Kretschmer K, Flax MIL Cotran RS (1967) The fine structure of the vascular response in hapten-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity and contact dermatitis. Lab Invest 17:334–349

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kresge Eye Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 4717 St. Antoine, 48201, Detroit, MI, USA

    Edward Essner & Hitoshi Shichi

  2. Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA

    Wen-Lang Lin

Authors
  1. Wen-Lang Lin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Edward Essner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hitoshi Shichi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Offprint requests to: E. Essner

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lin, WL., Essner, E. & Shichi, H. Breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier in S-antigen-induced uveoretinitis in rats. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 229, 457–463 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00166310

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00166310

Keywords

Search

Navigation