Objective      To investigate whether diminazene aceturate (DIZE) protects mice from endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU).       Methods      Female BALB/c mice received intraperitoneal injection of DIZE (60 mg/kg) for 2 d prior to intravitreous injection of lipopolysaccharides (LPS

125 ng). The anterior segments of the mice were examined and clinical scores were determined at 12 and 24 h after LPS injection. Morphology change was

evaluated with a light microscope at 24 hours after LPS injection. The mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines in the eyes were measured by real-time PCR.       Results      At the 24th hour

the clinical score of mice treated with DIZE (1.75±0.96) was significantly lower than that of the saline-injected controls (4.00±1.22

P

0.01). Histological examination showed the total infiltrating inflammatory cells remarkably reduced in DIZE-treated eyes. The mRNA levels of ICAM-1

TNF-α

MCP-1

and IL-6 were significantly reduced in DIZE-treated eyes(

P

0.01).       Conclusion      DIZE protects retinal structure and reduces infiltrating inflammatory cells in LPS-induced EIU mouse model. These results support that DIZE may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for uveitis.