THE EFFECTS OF BETAMETHASONE DERIVATIVES ON ENDOTOXIN-INDUCED UVEITISIN GUINEA-PIGS

Objective and Design: We reported previously that the betamethasone de rivative betamethasone dipropionate behaves as an anti-glucocorticoid in rat endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU). In the present study, We produ ced EIU in guinea pigs and investigated the effects of betamethasone d ipropionate on the EIU. Material: Male Hartley guinea pigs were used. Treatment: Glucocorticoids were instilled into the eye, Method: To eli cit EIU, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was injected into the anterior chamb er of the eye. Cell numbers in the aqueous humor after LPS injection w ere determined by flow cytometry. Prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)) productio n after LPS injection into the anterior chamber was also examined, Res ults: Intracameral injection of LPS (1 mu g/eye) induced cell infiltra tion into the anterior chamber and PGE(2) Betamethasone dipropionate c ell and PGE(2) production more than betamethasone. These results sugge st that betamethasone dipropionate is a potent glucocorticoid in guine a pigs. Conclusions: Structure-activity relationships of glucocorticoi ds in the guinea pig EIU model may differ from those in the fat EIU mo del.