[Immunohistochemical study of corneal allograft rejection in inbred rats]

Penetrating keratoplasty was performed on inbred rats (DA rat----Lewis rat) and the appearance of infiltrating cells in rejection was studied immunohistochemically using anti-rat monoclonal antibodies W3/25 (helper T cell), OX8 (suppressor/cytotoxic T cell), OX6 (Ia antigen positive cell) and OX42 (macrophage). In all cells evaluated, infiltration around the graft occurred between days 2 and 4. In OX42-positive cells infiltration was most intense in the early phase. Rejection occurred on postoperative day 12 +/- 2. Prior to the development of rejection, OX6-positive cells and W3/25-positive cells were dominant. However, during rejection, OX8-positive cells markedly increased, becoming dominant. These changes were not reflected in the peripheral blood. During rejection, the endothelial flat preparation was Ia antigen-positive which not found in normal cornea.