Pharmacologic inhibition of immediate hypersensitivity in the guinea pig conjunctiva

The release of histamine and other mediators from an immediate hypersensitivity reaction is energy dependent and cyclic AMP dependent. Drugs which inhibit the active secretion of mediators, or which may change cyclic AMP are effective in inhibiting mediator release. We used a model of Type I (immediate) hypersensitivity in the conjunctiva of guinea pigs sensitized to normal rabbit serum to test the efficacy of 2-deoxy-D-glucose or a combination of isoproterenol and diethylcarbamazine in inhibiting conjunctival hypersensitivity. After topical challenge with rabbit serum, edema was evaluated in five areas of the guinea pig conjunctiva. Controls were compared to conjunctiva pretreated with 2-deoxy-D-glucose or isoproterenol and diethylcarbamazine. Pretreatment with 2-deoxy-D-glucose or a combination of isoproterenol and diethylcarbamazine was found to inhibit the immediate hypersensitivity reaction.