Immunomodulating properties and tissue distribution of aromatic retinoids in the immunologically responsive albino rabbit eye.

The effects of retinoid Ro 10-9359 no normal albino rabbit eyes and antigen-induced intra-ocular inflammations were investigated. The distribution pattern of intravenously applied 3H--Ro 10-9359 correlated well with the sites of pharmacological action. Whereas immunologically naive rabbits showed a uveal uptake of 0.164 ng/g wet wt. tissue when 100 micrograms of Ro 10-9359 was administered intravenously, accumulation may amount up to 17.46 ng/g in secondary ocular immune responses. Ro 10-9359 accumulated markedly during secondary stimulation in the uvea, preauricular lymph nodes and the spleen. The chemotactic peptide NForm-Leu-Leu-Phe used to incite a hypopyon attracted Ro 10-9359 into the anterior chamber in vivo. This study indicates that the aromatic retinoid Ro 10-9359 is able to alter certain immune responses and may be involved in intercellular communication during secondary immune responses in the albino rabbit eye.