The Lysozyme Content of Tears

Abstract

Tears were collected with capillary pipettes from 100 clinically normal persons without irritating the eyes, and the bacteriolytic titer was determined under standard conditions, using M. lysodeikticus as the test organism. No relationship could be established between the titer variations and the age, sex, or race of the subject. Acute corneal lesions with sustained epiphora were investigated with respect to the value of the titer present, and this was found to be reduced in syphilitic keratitis, ulcerative keratitis, and in trachoma with active corneal changes. Nonspecific foreign protein had no effect on the lysozyme content in iridocyclitis after atropinization of the eyes. Pooled samples of tears had no effect, macroscopically, on bacteria cultured from the conjunctiva, but the bacteriostatic action of lysozyme was apparent on all the organisms tested. No bacteriolytic action was demonstrable on three strains of B. granulosis nor on strains of virulent staphylococcus. The effect of collyria on the bacteriolytic action of tears was determined. Strains of bacteria resistant to lysozyme develop rapidly when the organism is grown in the presence of lysozyme. From the Department of Ophthalmology, Washington University School of Medicine. Read before the Association for Research in Ophthalmology, Atlantic City, June 11, 1935. Tears were collected with capillary pipettes from 100 clinically normal persons without irritating the eyes, and the bacteriolytic titer was determined under standard conditions, using M. lysodeikticus as the test organism. No relationship could be established between the titer variations and the age, sex, or race of the subject. Acute corneal lesions with sustained epiphora were investigated with respect to the value of the titer present, and this was found to be reduced in syphilitic keratitis, ulcerative keratitis, and in trachoma with active corneal changes. Nonspecific foreign protein had no effect on the lysozyme content in iridocyclitis after atropinization of the eyes. Pooled samples of tears had no effect, macroscopically, on bacteria cultured from the conjunctiva, but the bacteriostatic action of lysozyme was apparent on all the organisms tested. No bacteriolytic action was demonstrable on three strains of B. granulosis nor on strains of virulent staphylococcus. The effect of collyria on the bacteriolytic action of tears was determined. Strains of bacteria resistant to lysozyme develop rapidly when the organism is grown in the presence of lysozyme. From the Department of Ophthalmology, Washington University School of Medicine. Read before the Association for Research in Ophthalmology, Atlantic City, June 11, 1935.