Autoreactive antibodies and loss of retinal ganglion cells in rats induced by immunization with ocular antigens.

Purpose: In an experimental autoimmune animal model, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss was induced through immunization with glaucoma-related antigens. The target of this study was to investigate the pathomechanism behind this decline and the serum antibody reactivity against ocular and neuronal tissues after immunization with glaucoma- and non-glaucoma-associated antigens.

Methods: Rats immunized with optic nerve antigen homogenate (ONA) or keratin (KER) were compared to control rats (CO).

Ophthalmopathology in rats with MBP-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Purpose: Multiple studies indicate that T-cells play a major role in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model of multiple sclerosis, but recently an involvement of antibodies has also been discussed. The aim of our study was to examine the effects of myelin basic protein (MBP) immunization on survival of neurons, alteration of antibody reactivity, and microglia in the retinal ganglion cell layer.

Methods: EAE was induced in rats by immunization with MBP.