Antigen-antibody reactions in the eye involving complement binding IgG antibodies and their non-complement binding F(ab')2 fragments.

An immunogenic inflammation was induced in the eyes of inbred Wistar-Furth rats by intravenous injection of anti-human serum albumin IgG antibodies and intravitreal injection of human serum albumin. The ocular inflammation was compared to the findings observed following the intravenous injection of F(ab')2 fragments of anti-human serum albumin IgG antibody and intravitreal injection of human serum albumin. The dose of antigen and IgG immunoglobulin antibody molecules used in the experiments caused a consistent inflammatory response that reached a peak at 24 hours and lasted for approximately seven days. The experimental animals, in which an intraocular reaction of the antigen with F(ab')2 antibody fragments occurred, did not show any immunogenic inflammatory response, indicating an absence of complement activation by either the classical or the alternative pathways.