Vernal conjunctivitis. Model studies in guinea pigs immunized topically with fluoresceinyl ovalbumin
M. Khatami, J. J. Donnelly, T. John and J. H. Rockey
Repeated topical applications of fluoresceinyl ovalbumin (FL-OA) to the
conjunctival sac of guinea pigs sensitized them for conjunctival type 1
hypersensitivity reactions and mast cell degranulation. Guinea pigs
infected with Ascaris suum, with high titers of circulating anti-A suum IgE
and IgG1 antibody, also produced conjunctival type 1 reactions on topical
challenge with A suum antigen. These reactions were no more intense than
those of animals topically sensitized and challenged with FL-OA, which in
some instances had no detectable serum homocytotropic antibody.
Persistently reactive animals that had undergone repeated type 1
conjunctival reactions had histological findings (eg, papillary changes
with extensive epithelial eosinophil infiltrates, epithelial thickening or
thinning, numerous goblet cells, subepithelial lymphoid cell infiltrates,
and new vessel formation) resembling those of human atopic vernal
conjunctivitis.
