Effect of Diethylcarbamazine Citrate and Anti-Inflammatory Drugs on Experimental Onchocercal Punctate Keratitis

Abstract

Subconjunctivally injected Onchocerca lienalis microfilariae (Mf) migrate into the guinea pig cornea, resulting, when the microfilariae die, in punctate stromal opacities resembling those of human onchocerciasis. Administration of diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC-C) following subconjunctival injection of Mf increased the proportion of dead Mf in the cornea, the number of punctate opacities and the extent of peripheral corneal neovascularization. Betamethasone (a synthetic steroid) and lodoxamide tromethamine (an inhibitor of mediator release from mast cells) inhibited the formation of punctate opacities. Chlorphe-niramine maleate and cimetidine (H1 and H2 histamine receptor antagonists), given together, did not alter the formation of punctate opacities but inhibited the peripheral corneal neovascularization. These observations suggest that mast cell mediators other than histamine may be of importance in the formation of the corneal punctate opacities.

Developmental Phases of Inflammation-Induced Massive Lymphoid Hyperplasia and Extensive Changes in Epithelium in an Experimental Model of Allergy

“…11,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] For the majority of studies described in this article, ocular tissue of the guinea pigs was sensitized and challenged by repeated topical applications of the antigen (ovalbumin, conjugated with fluorescein, FLOA), 2 to 4 times per day for the first 1½ weeks and 2 to 6 times per month for up to 30 months. Eyes were sensitized unilaterally or bilaterally, with or without application of Ascaris suum adult extracts, active systemic infection with A. suum larvae and eggs.…”

“…Eyes were sensitized unilaterally or bilaterally, with or without application of Ascaris suum adult extracts, active systemic infection with A. suum larvae and eggs. 11,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] Organ and tissue cultures from sensitized conjunctiva and spleen were prepared to examine antibody profiles as previously described. 21,23 In a series of experiments, the eyes of newborn babies from sensitized pregnant animals were topically challenged only once or twice by FLOA within 3 weeks after the birth.…”

“…Sera or culture media from sensitized animals were tested for the presence of homocytotropic IgE antibodies or IgG1, IgG2, IgM, and IgA antibodies as previously described. 11,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] Histamine and prostaglandins were measured by radioimmunoassays or ELISA. Mast cells, eosinophils, basophils, goblet cells, macrophages, and vascular leakage were monitored by compound 48/80, a mast cell-degranulating agent, histologic procedures, or fluorescent microscopy leakage experiments.…”

“…15 To better understand the molecular and immunologic basis of inflammatory responses in allergic diseases and the relationship between inflammation and the development of hyperplasia of lymphoid tissues and extensive changes in epithelia, experimental models of human acute and chronic inflammatory and infectious diseases were established using conjunctival tissue. 11,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] In this article, data selected from a series of studies of models of acute and chronic inflammation are reanalyzed and expanded to identify the developmental phases of immune responses during the entire course of inflammation. Furthermore, the intimate role of blood components and vascular function in all phases of inflammatory responses is demonstrated.…”

Inflammation, Aging, and Cancer: Tumoricidal Versus Tumorigenesis of Immunity

“…Acute and chronic inflammatory responses were induced in guinea pig conjunctival-associated lymphoid tissues (CALTs) using fluorescine-conjugated ovalbumin (FLOA) in the presence or absence of adjuvant, infective parasites or extracts, or tumor promoting agents (TPA) for up to 30 months [1,40,50,70,200,[225][226][227][228][229][230][231][232][233]. At least three identifiable phases of immune response alterations were monitored by clinical and immunopathological assays.…”