[Experimental uveoretinitis induced in monkeys by retinal S antigen. Induction, histopathology (author's transl)].

S antigen was isolated from human and bovine retinas and purified by two chromatographic steps. Its purity was controlled by SDS-electrophoresis and immunodiffusion. Seven Cynomolgus monkeys received a single subcutaneous immunization with either 50 or 100 micrograms of human S antigen (5 animals) or 100 micrograms of bovine S antigen (2 animals) with complete Freund's adjuvant. All the monkeys had bilateral uveoretinitis and anti-"S" antibodies were found in their serum. The time course of the disease was followed clinically during one year and pathologic features were described at various time intervals. The disease includes prominent retinal vasculitis and granulomatous chorio-retinitis, with a chronic course, and leads after many months to almost complete destruction of the retina, with persistence of inflammatory infiltrates and pigment of cell migration.