Effects of qingkailing on experimental allergic uveitis in rabbits

Experimental allergic uveitis (EAU) in rabbits was induced by single intraocular injection of bovine serum albumin (BSA). The average of protein concentration in aqueous humor of untreated group of rabbits was 14.33 +/- 1.21 mg/ml and the count of tritiated thymidine (3H-TdR) incorporated into lymphocyte T was 3,987 +/- 1,156cpm/10(6). The specific antibody responses to BSA in the serum and the aqueous were 0.508 +/- 0.034 and 0.369 +/- 0.019 (OD) respectively. Meanwhile, the effect of Qingkailing on EAU was observed in comparison with dexamethasone as the positive control. The inflammatory reactions of rabbits treated with Qingkailing were remarkably diminished clinically and pathologically. The amount of protein concentration in aqueous of the treated rabbits was 5.79 +/- 2.19 mg/ml (P < 0.01) and the count of 3H-TdR incorporation was 2,455 +/- 981cpm/10(6) (P < 0.05). The responses of antibody in the serum and the aqueous were 0.414 +/- 0.059 and 0.253 +/- 0.041 (P < 0.01) respectively. Our observations indicate that Qingkailing has a positive therapeutic effect on EAU in the rabbits and sustain the suggestion that this drug is capable of suppressing immune and phlogistic reactions.