Failure of inhibiting corneal graft rejection in rabbits by 5 alpha-androstane-3,17-dione.

Corneal transplantations were performed on both eyes of 19 albino rabbits. For each animal both grafts were taken from one pigmented donor rabbit. In all animals one eye was treated with a 2% 5alpha-androstane-3,17-dione ointment (alphaA) and the other eye with an ointment containing no steroid (6 rabbits) or 2% cortisol (13 rabbits). Our experiments showed that alphaA cannot inhibit the efferent limb of corneal graft rejection as effectively as cortisol. we discuss some histological features of corneal graft rejection and our technique of corneal grafting in rabbits.