Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 on rat corneal endothelium in experimental uveitis.

We studied the expression of the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on the corneal endothelium of the rat in the experimental uveitis induced by interphotoreceptor peptides (R-4) as an immunogen using immunohistochemical methods. ICAM-1, which was not detected in eyes without inflammation, was expressed on the corneal endothelium, vascular endothelium and inflammatory cells, such as monocytes and lymphocytes, in R-4 induced uveitis. The ocular inflammation in the iris, ciliary body and anterior chamber associated with the adherence of inflammatory cells to the corneal endothelium (keratic precipitates) first appeared on the 11th day and were most remarkable on the 14th day and then gradually subsided after 18th day. The expression of ICAM-1 on the corneal endothelium was noticed from the 12th day of immunization to the 16th day and was most prominent on the 14th day but disappeared after the 18th day. The present study proved that ICAM-1 was expressed on the corneal endothelium in anterior uveitis and further indicated that the corneal endothelium modulates the inflammation of the anterior ocular segment by expressing ICAM-1 and forming keratic precipitates.