Suppression of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis by prazosin, an alpha 1-adrenergic receptor antagonist

S-antigen (S-Ag)-induced experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) was suppressed in Lewis and PVG rats by treatment beginning 4 days post immunization with prazosin, a specific alpha 1-adrenergic receptor antagonist. A significant suppression of EAU was observed at clinical and histological levels in both treated groups compared to a severe EAU which developed in controls. Fluorescein angiography showed no leakage of dye from the optic disc of a treated PVG rat presenting no ocular inflammation by clinical examination. The treatment had no effect on the titer of anti-S-Ag antibodies. Perivascular infiltrates of T-lymphocytes and macrophages together with alterations of blood-retinal barrier permeability are early events in EAU. Prazosin, by acting on the vascular alpha 1-adrenoreceptors, inhibits vasospasm, preserves blood-retinal-barrier integrity and prevents vascular edema and early inflammatory cell infiltration observed in EAU.