Histochemical analysis of experimental granulomatous uveitis

We have previously demonstrated the effects of various inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism on experimental lens-induced granulomatous uveitis. In the present study, we investigated the effect of these same inhibitors on the expression of lysosomal enzymes at different stages of choroidal inflammation in experimental lens-induced granulomatous uveitis and compared this to the inflammation observed at each stage examined. Lysosomal enzymes such as acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase and succinate dehydrogenase are known to be liberated during the maturation of mononuclear phagocytes to epithelioid cell granulomas. Although animals treated with nordihydroguaiaretic acid showed less severe inflammation than did indomethacin-treated or control animals, none of these agents appeared to affect the expression of acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase, as determined histochemically. Succinate dehydrogenase could not be detected in any of the eyes examined, even though sections of liver and kidney from these same animals were positive for this enzyme.