Some local factors affecting iridic lipid infiltration in hypercholesteremic rabbits

Abstract

The influence of various factors affecting the deposition of lipid and cholesterol in the iris of rabbits fed cholesterol and cottonseed oil was studied. It was observéd that this deposition could be increased by the intraocular implantation of either normal aortic tissue or polyethylene discs. In an additional study, it was found that intermittent exposure of the eyes of cholesterol-fed rabbits to intense light also provoked an earlier and more intense iris deposition of lipid and cholesterol than was observed in the eyes of similarly fed rabbits kept either in absolute darkness or under ordinary laboratory conditions. It was postulated that the factor responsible for the greater iridic deposition observed in all these experimental animals was the iridic vasodilatation effected by these experimental measures.