Endotoxin-induced
uveitis (EIU) was produced in albino rabbits by
intravitreal injection in the right eye of 10 ng of
salmonella endotoxin in 5 ± l of
saline solution by a Hamilton syringe.
PGE2 and
LTB4 were measured in the aqueous humor by the R.I.A. method 24 hours after
endotoxin injection in order to examine the activity of the
arachidonic acid metabolism. The authors have used seven groups of 12 animals each. The control group was injected with saline (5 ± l) and the
endotoxin group (ET) with 10 ng of
endotoxin. One experimental group was injected with the same amount of ET and treated with three
intraperitoneal injections (-2h, 0h, 12h) of DFNa (32 mg/kg). Another group (ET+S) was injected with ET and treated with saline intraperitoneally (-2h, 0h, 12h). The topically treated groups received ET and topic DFNa (0.1%) every 6h, 4h and 2h respectively. Mean aqueous
PGE2 concentration of the negative control group (0.03 ± 0.02 ng/ml) was significantly lower (p < 0.01) than in the ET group (7.26 ± 4.16). All the treated groups showed a statistical difference as compared to the ET group (p < 0.01, Student test). Mean
LTB4 concentration of the negative control group (4.44 ± 0.33 ng/ml) was also significantly lower (p<0.01) than in the ET group (5.10 ± 0.61). Treatment with DFNa did not result in a decrease of the aqueous
LTB4 levels. It is concluded that topical DFNa results in a decrease of aqueous
PGE(2), without affecting LTB levels. To the best of our knowledge, such an effect of topical DFNa has not been reported previously.