The protein distribution of bovine, human and rabbit aqueous humour and the difference in composition before and after disruption of the blood/aqueous humour barrier.

The protein distribution of bovine, monkey, dog, human and rabbit aqueous humour (AH) was determined by capillary isotachophoresis (ITF). The main component was albumin, and components of lower concentrations were transferrin, IgA and IgG. The results of the analysis by ITP were confirmed by immunoelectrophoresis. The appearance of the ITP patterns of normal AH's from 5 species was almost identical, the same main components were present in the AH of each species. When the blood/AH barrier was disrupted, the protein composition of the AH was changed abruptly. ITP was the technique of choice to determine quantitative changes in protein composition of the AH's. In rabbit secondary AH, ITP showed high proportions of albumin and enhanced concentrations of transferrin. Examples were given of the difference between early and late aspiration in bovine and rabbit. The ITP was thus the method of choice to confirm whether the blood/aqueous humour barrier was intact or damaged by the influence of a drug, given to experimental animals.