Opsin-induced experimental autoimmune retinitis in rats

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Abstract
Experimental autoimmune retinitis was induced in Lewis rats by injection of opsin in mycobacterial adjuvant and Haemophilus pertussis adjuvant. Clinical, histopathological and immunological parameters of the disease are reported. Two types of opsin were prepared from purified bovine retina outer segments, 1 type in Triton X-100 and the other in lithium dodecyl sulfate. Both preparations were free from S-antigen. Dodecyl sulfate-denaturated-opsin displayed lower antigenicity and pathogenicity than Triton-opsin. Triton-opsin (250 .mu.g) induced moderate to severe non-granulomatous uveitis (predominately retinitis) in 70% of the Lewis rats at the end of the 2nd wk after injection. The photoreceptor cell layer was destructed within a few days. This group displayed high responses to opsin in the lymphocyte transformation test. In view of observed histological features, the possible early involvement of vasoactive factors is discussed. Low opsin doses (50 or 100 .mu.g) seldomly induced severe retinitis, while the incidence of mild pathology was low. Lewis rats appeared to be more susceptible for the development of experimental autoimmune retinitis than Wistar rats.