Endothelial cell changes in endotoxin-induced uveitis

Modifications in endothelial cells density and variations in endothelial pleomorphism during experimental uveitis were studied in 20 albino rabbits after intravitreal injection of 2,000 ng Salmonella typhi endotoxin into 10 of them. The other 10 rabbits were injected with sterile saline serum. Morphologic changes in endothelial cells were also determined, using a method of endothelial vital staining. For the first time, a significant reduction in endothelial density and a significant increase in endothelial pleomorphism during endotoxin-induced uveitis is reported. The control group eyes showed an endothelial density of 3,959 cells/mm2, while the uveitis eyes showed 3,667 cells/mm2 (p < 0.05, Student's t test). A reduction in the percentage of hexagonal endothelial cells was found, from 70.4% in the control group to 64.4% in the eyes with anterior uveitis (p < 0.001, Student's t test). An increase in the percentage of pentagonal endothelial cells was also found, from 14.5% in the control group to 20.1% in the uveitis eyes (p < 0.001, Student's t test). These modifications are correlated with the morphologic appearance of the stained corneal surface, and functional implications are discussed.