ENDOTHELIAL-CELL CHANGES IN ENDOTOXIN-INDUCED UVEITIS

Modifications in endothelial cells density and variations in endotheli al pleomorphism during experimental uveitis were studied in 20 albino rabbits after intravitreal injection of 2,000 ng Salmonella typhi endo toxin into 10 of them. The other 10 rabbits were injected with sterile saline serum. Morphologic changes in endothelial cells were also dete rmined, using a method of endothelial vital staining. For the first ti me, a significant reduction in endothelial density and a significant i ncrease in endothelial pleomorphism during endotoxin-induced uveitis i s reported. The control group eyes showed an endothelial density of 3, 959 cells/mm(2), while the uveitis eyes showed 3,667 cells/mm(2) (p < 0.05, Student's t test). A reduction in the percentage of hexagonal en dothelial cells was found, from 70.4% in the control group to 64.4% in the eyes with anterior uveitis (p < 0.001, Student's t test). An incr ease in the percentage of pentagonal endothelial cells was also found, from 14.5% in the control group to 20.1% in the uveitis eyes (p < 0.0 01, Student's t test). These modifications are correlated with the mor phologic appearance of the stained corneal surface, and functional imp lications are discussed.