Effect of Cervical Sympathectomy on the Ocular Response to Systemic Endotoxin 1

Summary

Postganglionic sympathectomy decreases the severity of the ocular response to systemic endotoxin. This depressant effect is not present at 1.5 hr. but is present 4 hr after endotoxin. There is a decrease in the altered vascular permeability as measured by ¹²⁵I-human serum albumin and a decrease in stromal hemorrhages and small vessel thrombi of the iridial portion of the ciliary process in the eye on the sympathectomized side. It is concluded that a high local concentration of adrenergic substances is partly responsible for making the eye unusually sensitive to the effects of circulating endotoxin.