Histoincompatibility and allogeneic corneal grafting between inbred strains of rats

To study corneal allograft reactions in antigenically controlled models, our method for interlamellar grafting was applied in two rat inbred strain combinations, the one with intermediate and the other with strong (RtH-1) histoincompatibility. In syngeneic controls, no rejection of grafts applied near the limbus could be observed clinically and histologically, but all allografts were rejected; the speed and intensity of the reaction depend on the degree of histoincompatibility. Systemic sensitization following corneal grafting took place in both strain combinations as indicated by accelerated rejection of subsequent skin grafts.