The effect of cyclophosphamide on an ocular immune response. I. Primary response.

The ocular inflammation and antibody production that follow intravitreal injection of rabbit eyes with bovine gamma globulin were suppressed by treatment with Cytoxan by the intramuscular (i.m.) route. The drug suppressed PFC responses of uveal tract and corneal cells when it was administered, beginning as late as 5 days after immunization, if treatment was continued until day 12 or 13. Short-term treatments and treatment with smaller Cytoxan doses were less effective. We noted a good correlation between the presence or absence of ocular inflammation, suppression of ocular PFC responses and depression of serum, aqueous humour and vitreous humour antibody titres. In some treatment groups ocular antibody production seemed to be completely suppressed, while in others antibody production was significantly delayed.