Deposition of immune complexes in the mouse eye.

The ocular deposition of circulating immune complexes was studied in mice using passive and active immune complex models. In the passive model, immune complexes were made at different antigen-to-antibody ratios and subsequently injected intravenously. In the active model, antigen alone was injected intravenously into immune mice. Ocular localization was studied by immunofluorescence microscopy. In both experimental models a marked deposition of antigen, antibody and mouse C3 could be observed in the scleral capillary area, whereas a weaker deposition could also be observed in the ciliary body, iris and choroid. With the immune complex doses used, only a short (1-2 hr) ocular deposition was observed and no inflammatory signs were seen upon histological examination. The deposition of complexes in the episcleral capillary area could provide a suitable experimental model to analyse the role of circulating immune complexes in the pathogenesis of scleral phenomena associated with rheumatoid arthritis.