INDUCTION OF CYTOTOXIC T-LYMPHOCYTES FROM SPLENOCYTES AFTER ORTHOTOPIC PENETRATING KERATOPLASTY IN THE RAT

We used a rat model of orthotopic penetrating keratoplasty to study sp lenic cell cytotoxicity in the host. DA (RT1(avl)) rats received graft s of Fischer (F-344, RT1(lv1)) rat corneas. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CT L) activity was measured by the cell-mediated lymphocytotoxicity assay using 4/4R.M.-4 cells as target cells. CTL activity became detectable in vitro 2 weeks after grafting and peaked at 3 weeks. This simple me thod of quantifying CTL activity in the orthotopic penetrating keratop lasty model should provide a reliable tool for studying the CTL respon se in corneal transplantation.