The effects of immunosuppression on the development of (experimental) cataract

The immunogenical response to heteroimmunization and its effects on the lens were studied in 10 healthy young rabbits who received human lens antigen in Freund's adjuvant, according to a schedule. Half the immunized rabbits were treated with prednisolone (the equivalent of 10 mg/kg) daily. All five animals who did not receive prednisolone developed precipitating antibodies to human lens protein, whereas only one out of the five prednisolone-fed animals developed antibodies. Slitlamp examination of the lenses at 16 weeks and 32 weeks post-immunization revealed small cortical lens opacities in three of the animals who also showed lens antibodies in their sera. None of the antibody-negative animals showed any lens lesions (prednisolone treated).