RABBIT CORNEAL ALLOGRAFT SURVIVAL FOLLOWING TOPICAL ADMINISTRATION OF CYCLOSPORIN-A

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 22  (5) , 686-690
Abstract
Cyclosporin A (CS-A), selectively inhibiting cellular immunity, delayed the skin graft-induced rejection of corneal allografts in rabbits when administered subconjunctivally in the dose of 3 mg/kg per day or in the form of 5% water-soluble drops 5 times daily for 28 days. The subconjunctival application of CS-A was irritating, whereas the topical instillation of the water-soluble preparation was well tolerated. The corneal grafts were rejected after discontinuation of the therapy. Rejection was confirmed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The mechanism by which CS-A delayed corneal graft rejection seems to depend mainly on the specific and/or the nonspecific effect of topical CS-A on lymphocytes.