Distribution of morphine in the eye tissues and fluids of rabbits after systemic administration and after transfer via corneal grafting.

To determine whether corneas from animals receiving morphine could be used for grafting, rabbits were given a single intravenous injection of tritium-labelled morphine and killed 10 minutes later. Of the drug entering the eye, 12% was found in the cornea, 36% in the retina and optic nerve, 29% in the uveal tissues, 8% in the aqueous humour, 8% in the choroid, 4% in the vitreous humour and 2% in the lens. Another group of rabbits then received full-thickness corneal grafts from rabbits treated with morphine.

The BB Wistar rat: an experimental model for the study of diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy was studied in the spontaneously diabetic BB Wistar rat with respect to qualitative and quantitative structural changes. Trypsin-digested retinal preparations revealed after 8 to 11 months of diabetes a decrease in the pericyte/endothelial cell ratio. Quantitative ultrastructural examinations showed no increase in the vascularity or in basement-membrane thickness in diabetic animals.

Bovine retinal pigment epithelial cells cultured in vitro: growth characteristics, morphology, chromosomes, phagocytosis ability, tyrosinase activity and effect of freezing.

We compared the bovine melanotic and amelanotic retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells cultivated in vitro using a number of parameters. Both cell types could be readily harvested from the eye by dissection or by enzyme treatment of the RPE. Both types of cells grew equally well in the primary culture, and in serial subcultures for over 600 days, and also after being stored frozen for over two months.

Ocular complications of systemic steroid after renal transplantation and their association with HLA.

The eyes of 62 patients who had received allogenic renal transplants were examined for eye disease. Thirty-six patients were found to have steroid induced cataract. Six patients had ocular hypertension.

Effects of acidic lake water on the eye.

The normal eyes of 6 men and 21 rabbits were exposed to samples of lake water, one eye to a sample of pH 4.6 and the other to a sample of pH 6.3.

Distribution of penicillin in the cornea, tears and aqueous humour at various times following a single intravenous injection.

Bioassays performed by the disc diffusion technique on samples of blood, tears, aqueous humour and cornea from 30 rabbits killed 4 to 24 hours following a single intravenous injection of benzylpenicillin (40 mg/kg) showed that the penicillin content of these fluids and tissues progressively decreased with time. However, even after 24 hours the agent could be detected in the samples. The peripheral and central cornea contained similar amounts of penicillin up to 16 hours; thereafter, the peripheral cornea contained more of the agent.

Enhancement and inhibition of phagocytic activity in the retinal pigment epithelium.

The phagocytic activity of the pigmented epithelium of the bovine retina was studied with an organ culture model. Latex particles coated with immunoglobulin, or bovine rod outer segments, both labelled with radioactive iodine, were the objects to be phagocytosed. Various agents were tested with this model for their effects on phagocytosis by the retinal pigment epithelium.

Effect of hydrocortisone on the mobilisation of leucocytes in corneal wounds.

We have studied in rabbits the effect of subconjunctivally injected hydrocortisone on the polymorphonuclear leucocyte invasion of corneal wounds at different times after an injury. One group of rabbits was treated with the steroid (hydrocortisone group) and the other not (control group). After making nonpenetrating trephine incisions on the cornea we obtained cellular samples by the impression technique at a given postoperative period (2, 4, or 6 hours), and then the animal was killed.

Identification, isolation and some properties of lectin from the seeds of Indian coral tree [Erythrina variegata (Linn.) var. orientalis (Linn.) Merrill].

A D-galactose-binding lectin agglutinating human erythrocytes has been purified from the seeds of the Indian coral tree (Erythrina variegata (Linn.) var. orientalis (Linn.

Impression cytology in conjunctivitis.

A technique is described for studying the cellular response in various conjunctival disorders. A round plastic disc (Thermanox) is pressed against the patient's conjunctive, and the material adhering to the disc is stained with a modified Wright's stain (Diff-Quik) for light microscopy. This method compares favourably with the classic conjunctival scraping method.

Effect of bile acid perfusion on colonic motor function in patients with the irritable colon syndrome.

A study was performed to determine the effect of bile acid perfusion on motility in the sigmoid colon of patients with the irritable colon syndrome compared with normal subjects. Deoxycholic acid (15 mM) statistically significantly increased motility in normal subjects (control 25.0 +/- 6.