Abstract
PURPOSE: The authors followed and correlated the physiologic and morphologic changes occurring in experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) induced by the peptide G of S-antigen. METHODS: EAU was induced in Lewis rats by footpad inoculation of a 13-amino acid synthetic peptide (peptide G) in complete Freund's adjuvant. Electroretinography (ERG) was used to follow the physiologic changes, and light and electron microscopy were used to examine the morphologic changes. RESULTS: Serial ERG recordings showed a progressive decrease in the b-wave amplitude and a depression of retinal sensitivity beginning on day 18-21 postinoculation (PI). By day 35 PI, the b-wave was decreased by 91%, and the sensitivity was depressed by 4.68 log units. Negative ERG were recorded during the intermediate and late stage. Light and electron microscopy of the retina showed better correlation of the pathologic changes with b-wave depression than with PI day. CONCLUSIONS: ERG recordings were a good method to detect, follow, and quantify the severity of EAU. Their good correlation with the morphologic changes showed that this method can be used to assess the condition of the retina noninvasively.