The course of carrageenin-induced iridocyclitis in rabbits.

On the basis of biochemical indices in the aqueous humor of the eye strictly related to intensity of inflammation, and morphologic observations with the slit-lamp microscope, dynamics of experimental carrageenin-induced inflammation of the anterior chamber of the eye was studied. Carrageenin-induced inflammation was characterized by intensity of changes in the aqueous humor within a few hours after infection of the inflammatory factor. Peak intensity of the disease process was observed six hours after administration of the inflammatory factor. Protein levels, seromucoid, sialic acid and proteolytic activity in the aqueous humor were correlated with intensity of clinical symptoms observed with the slit lamp. Carrageenin-induced inflammation of the anterior chamber of the eye is an entirely local reaction since the blood serum showed no significant abnormalities of the parameters that were studied. This model, based on biochemical and biomicroscopic studies, may prove useful in the studies of the dynamics of inflammation of the anterior chamber of the eye and for evaluation of anti-inflammatory drugs used in ophthalmology.