Collagenase levels in a new model of experimental herpetic interstitial keratitis

R. Campbell, D. Pavan-Langston, J. Lass, M. Berman, J. Gage and D. Albert

A reproducible model of severe herpetic interstitial keratitis was developed by injecting live herpes simplex virus type 2 intrastromally into the corneas of presensitized rabbits. Herpes-infected corneas showed significantly more stromal infiltration and vascularization, iritis, conjunctivitis, and epithelial disease than the control corneas injected with cell supernatant without virus. Levels of total collagenase detected in the culture media of the herpes-infected corneas were high and were similar to those observed previously in alkali-burned rabbit corneas. Unlike alkali-burned corneas, the herpes-infected corneas showed much more of the enzyme in the latent form during the first two days of culture.