reduction of intraocular pressure in normal and glaucomatous primate (aotus trivirgatus) eyes by...

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Current - Volume 1 Number 4 1981 hYe Research Reduction of intraocular pressure in normal and glaucomatous primate (Aotus trivirgatus) eyes by topically applied prostaglandin F, C.B.Camras, and L.Z.Bito Department of Ophthalmology, Research Division, College of Physicians and-Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA Received 24 June 1981; accepted 24 July 1981 ABSTRACT Topical application of a single dose of 1.0 mg prostaglandin F,a (PGF,a) onto the cornea of five trained owl monkeys ( Aotus trivirgatus) caused a prolonged and highly significant ocular hypotony. The intraocular pressure (IOP) of the treated eye was 4.7 f 0.9 mn Hg below that of the control eye 1A to 74 hr after PGF,a application and remained significantly reduced for over 72 hr. Miosis, aqueous flare, and accunulation of cells in the anterior chamber were minimal in extent. The hypotensive effect of PGF,a was even more pronounced when applied to a glaucomatous owl monkey eye with angle recession, which had IOPs consistently in the 45 to 55 mn Hg range (mean: 47.2 f 0.7) as measured periodically over a one-year period. The application of a single dose of 1.0 mg of PGF,a to this hypertensive eye reduced IOP by over 25 mn Hg within 4 hr, with a relative hypotony lasting for at least 6 days. These results show that topical application of certain PGs to normotensive or hypertensive pr imate eyes can cause a long lasting and highly significant decrease in IOP. and suggest that prostaglandins or their analogues may aid in the therapeutic control of ocular hypertension and glaucoma. INTRODUCTION Earlier studies on the ocular effects of prostaglandins (PGs) describing changes in IOP, pupillary dianeter, and p-otein concentration in the aqueous hunor were mostly limited to observa- tions du-ing the first few hou-s after rrlministra- tion of relatively high doses of these autacoids. 01 the basis of such studies. it ws conclded that PGs cause a severe ocular inflamnatory response characterized by marked ocular hypertension, pupillary miosis, and a breakdown of the blood- aqueous barrier (1 ). bre recently, it ws shorn that low doses of PGF applied topically to rabbit eyes cause a highly significant and long lasting reduction in IOP which is associated with increased outflow facility, but is not mediated by the synpathetic nervous system or by endcgemus PG synthesis (2). 2a Ihe few reported studies on ocular effects of PGs in monkeys or hunans indicate that the primate eye is considerably less sensitive than the rabbit eye to the inflamnatory effects of PGs (3,4,5,5). I-bwver, no studies have been reported on p-hate eyes which follow IOP changes past the first 9Q min after topical application of pcIs. In the present experiments, the floating tip peunatic tonaneter ws used on trained, conscious owl monkeys so that changes in IOP could be measured periodically for several days after topical application of PCF This s t d y included one owl monkey which had a long-standing unilateral angle recession glaucana of mknom origin. 2a' MATERIALS AND METHODS Five normal owl monkeys (Aotus trivirgatus: 3 males and 2 fanales; 0.8 to 1.0 kg) and one fenale with unilateral angle recession glaucoma were conditioned, as previously described (7). to accept handling, restraint, and tonometry without anesthe- sia. The IOP of both eyes was measured over a one- year period at random intervals, but at least once each month. (Xle drop of 0.5% proparacaine hydro- chloride (Alcaine; Alcon brp.. Fort Worth, TX) ws applied to the eye before TOP was measured with a floating tip pneunatic tonometer probe (8) attached to a pressure transducer and a recorder as described before (7). Each animal was placed in the supine position on the lap of the investigator and 2 or 3 IOP measurements, each several seconds in duration, were taken. The best steady-state segments of the IOP tracings were read and averaged. Pupillary diameter was measured in normal room light with a pupil gauge. Anterior chamber flare and cellular invasion were determined by slit lanp exanination and rated as previously described (9). @ IRL Press Limited, 1 Falconberg Court, London W1V 5FG, England 205 Curr Eye Res Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by McMaster University on 10/28/14 For personal use only.

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Current - Volume 1 Number 4 1981

hYe Research

Reduction of intraocular pressure in normal and glaucomatous primate (Aotus trivirgatus) eyes by topically applied prostaglandin F,

C.B.Camras, and L.Z.Bito

Department of Ophthalmology, Research Division, College of Physicians and-Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA

Received 24 June 1981; accepted 24 July 1981

ABSTRACT Topical a p p l i c a t i o n o f a s i n g l e dose o f 1.0 mg

pros tag landin F,a (PGF,a) o n t o t h e cornea of f i v e t r a i n e d owl monkeys ( Aotus t r i v i r g a t u s ) caused a prolonged and h i g h l y s i g n i f i c a n t o c u l a r hypotony. The i n t r a o c u l a r pressure ( I O P ) o f t h e t r e a t e d eye was 4.7 f 0.9 mn Hg below t h a t o f t h e c o n t r o l e y e 1A t o 7 4 h r a f t e r PGF,a a p p l i c a t i o n and remained s i g n i f i c a n t l y reduced for over 72 h r . Miosis , aqueous f l a r e , and accunula t ion o f ce l l s i n t h e a n t e r i o r chamber were minimal i n e x t e n t . The h y p o t e n s i v e e f f e c t o f PGF,a was e v e n more pronounced when a p p l i e d t o a g l a u c o m a t o u s owl monkey eye with angle r e c e s s i o n , which had IOPs c o n s i s t e n t l y i n t h e 45 t o 55 mn Hg range (mean: 47.2 f 0 . 7 ) a s measured p e r i o d i c a l l y o v e r a one-year per iod . The a p p l i c a t i o n o f a s i n g l e dose of 1.0 mg o f PGF,a t o t h i s hyper tens ive eye reduced IOP by over 25 mn Hg w i t h i n 4 h r , wi th a r e l a t i v e hypotony l a s t i n g f o r a t l e a s t 6 days. These results show t h a t t o p i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n o f c e r t a i n PGs t o normotensive o r hyper tens ive pr imate eyes can cause a long l a s t i n g and h i g h l y s i g n i f i c a n t decrease i n I O P . and sugges t t h a t p r o s t a g l a n d i n s o r t h e i r analogues may a i d i n t h e t h e r a p e u t i c c o n t r o l of o c u l a r hyper tens ion and glaucoma.

INTRODUCTION

E a r l i e r s t u d i e s on t h e o c u l a r e f f e c t s o f

pros tag landins (PGs) d e s c r i b i n g changes i n I O P ,

p u p i l l a r y d i a n e t e r , and p - o t e i n c o n c e n t r a t i o n i n

t h e aqueous hunor were m o s t l y l i m i t e d t o observa-

t i o n s du-ing t h e f i r s t few hou-s a f t e r rrlministra-

t i o n o f r e l a t i v e l y high doses o f t h e s e au tacoids .

01 t h e b a s i s o f such s t u d i e s . it w s c o n c l d e d t h a t

PGs cause a s e v e r e o c u l a r in f lamnatory response

c h a r a c t e r i z e d by marked o c u l a r h y p e r t e n s i o n ,

p u p i l l a r y m i o s i s , and a breakdown o f t h e blood-

aqueous b a r r i e r ( 1 ) . b r e r e c e n t l y , it w s shorn

t h a t low doses o f PGF appl ied t o p i c a l l y t o r a b b i t eyes cause a h i g h l y s i g n i f i c a n t and long l a s t i n g

reduct ion in IOP which i s a s s o c i a t e d wi th increased

o u t f l o w f a c i l i t y , b u t i s n o t m e d i a t e d by t h e

s y n p a t h e t i c nervous system o r b y endcgemus PG

s y n t h e s i s ( 2 ) .

2a

Ihe few repor ted s t u d i e s on o c u l a r e f f e c t s o f

PGs i n monkeys o r hunans i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e pr imate

eye is c o n s i d e r a b l y less s e n s i t i v e than t h e r a b b i t

e y e t o t h e inf lamnatory e f f e c t s of PGs ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 5 ) .

I-bwver, no s t u d i e s have been repor ted on p - h a t e

e y e s which fol low I O P changes p a s t t h e f i rs t 9Q min

a f t e r t o p i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n o f pcIs.

In t h e p r e s e n t exper iments , t h e f l o a t i n g t i p

p e u n a t i c t o n a n e t e r w s used on t r a i n e d , consc ious owl monkeys so t h a t c h a n g e s i n I O P c o u l d be

measured p e r i o d i c a l l y f o r s e v e r a l d a y s a f t e r

t o p i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n o f PCF This s t d y included one owl monkey which had a long-standing u n i l a t e r a l

angle r e c e s s i o n glaucana o f mknom o r i g i n .

2a'

MATERIALS AND METHODS F i v e normal owl monkeys (Aotus t r i v i r g a t u s : 3

males and 2 f a n a l e s ; 0.8 t o 1.0 kg) and one f e n a l e w i t h u n i l a t e r a l a n g l e r e c e s s i o n g laucoma were

condi t ioned , a s prev ious ly descr ibed ( 7 ) . t o a c c e p t

h a n d l i n g , r e s t r a i n t , and tonometry without anesthe-

s i a . The I O P o f bo th eyes was measured over a one- year per iod a t random i n t e r v a l s , b u t a t l e a s t once

each month. (Xle d r o p o f 0.5% proparacaine hydro-

c h l o r i d e ( A l c a i n e ; Alcon b r p . . F o r t Worth, TX) w s appl ied t o t h e eye b e f o r e TOP was measured with a

f l o a t i n g t i p pneunat ic tonometer probe ( 8 ) a t tached

t o a p r e s s u r e t r a n s d u c e r and a r e c o r d e r a s

d e s c r i b e d b e f o r e (7). Each animal was placed i n

t h e supine p o s i t i o n on t h e l a p of t h e i n v e s t i g a t o r and 2 or 3 I O P measurements, each s e v e r a l seconds

i n d u r a t i o n , were taken . The b e s t s t e a d y - s t a t e s e g m e n t s o f t h e I O P t r a c i n g s were r e a d and

a v e r a g e d . P u p i l l a r y d i a m e t e r was measured i n

normal room l i g h t with a pupi l gauge. Anter ior

chamber f l a r e and c e l l u l a r invas ion were determined

by s l i t l a n p exanina t ion and r a t e d a s p r e v i o u s l y

descr ibed ( 9 ) .

@ IRL Press Limited, 1 Falconberg Court, London W1V 5FG, England 205

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The tromethamine s a l t o f R;F ( a g i f t from IT. John E. p i h , me Upjohn 01.. Kalanazoo, Flich.)

was d isso lved i n p h y s i o l o g i c a l s a l i n e t o y i e l d

c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of 20, 40, 90 or 200 mg/ml.

In each experiment 5 ,,1 o f one o f t h e s e s o l u t i o n s

was appl ied t o one eye o f each monkey. Tne e y e s

were r i n s e d 3 t o 5 min l a t e r with 2 t o 4 m l of s a l i n e . ~n e q u a l volune (5 $) o f s a l i n e was

s i m i l a r l y appl ied t o t h e c o n t r a l a t e r a l c o n t r o l eyes f o l l o w e d b y r i n s i n g . Measurements o f I O P ,

p u p i l l a r y d i a m e t e r , and sl i t l a n p e v a l u a t i o n o f

aqueous f l a r e and c e l l u l a r c o n t e n t o f t h e a n t e r i o r

chamber were made a t v a r i o u s i n t e r v a l s a f t e r FGF 2 a

a p p l i c a t i o n .

2a

PCF2a

RESULTS

S t u d i e s on normal owl monkey eyes

Topical a p p l i c a t i o n o f 0.2 mg of PGF t o one

eye ( l e f t eye i n 2 and r i g h t eye i n 3 animals) o f

t h e 5 normal owl monkeys d i d not resul t i n s i g n i f i -

c a n t e f f e c t s on t h e I O P a s canpared t o t h e b a s e l i n e

I O P o f t h e t r e a t e d e y e o r t h e s imul taneous ly mea-

sured I O P i n t h e c o n t r a l a t e r a l eye (Table l ) . How-

e v e r , t o p i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n of l mg of PGF t o t h e

l e f t eye o f t h e s e animals 4 t o 14 days a f t e r t h e

f i r s t t r i a l r e s u l t e d i n a prolonged hypotony i n t h e

t r e a t e d eye canpared with t h e c o n t r a l a t e r a l eye

( F i g . 1 ) . In 3 o f t h e 5 e y e s t h i s hypotony was

preceded by a 2-3 mm I-g rise i n I O P o c c u r r i n g 15

min a f t e r t rea tment and s b w i n g b o r d e r l i n e s i g n i f i -

cance canpared with t h e c o n t r a l a t e r a l eye ( T a b l e

1 ) . A prolonged hypotony was a l s o observed when

t h e sane dose o f PGF was appl ied 6 days l a t e r t o

t h e c o n t r a l a t e r a l ( r i g h t ) e y e s o f t h e s e monkeys, o r

Men it was appl ied 18 days l a te r t o t h e o r i g i n a l l y

t r e a t e d eyes (Table 1 ) . A l t b L g h t h e extent o f

o c u l a r hypotension i n t h e t r e a t e d eye was about t h e

sane a f t e r each a p p l i c a t i o n o f 1.0 mg of PGF t h e

s i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h e TOP d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e n t r e a t e d

and c o n t r a l a t e r a l e y e s was reduced on subsequent PC

a p p l i c a t i o n because o f an apparent c o n t r a l a t e r a l

hypotensive e f f e c t . These I O P e f f e c t s on t h e un-

t r e a t e d c o n t r a l a t e r a l eyes =re not due t o d i u r n a l

v a r i a t i o n s s i n c e tonanet ry done over a 24-hr per iod

on t h e eyes o f t h e s e sane animals a f t e r b i l a t e r a l

2a

2a

2a

2a'

TABLE 1. The e f f e c t s o f t o p i c a l l y appl ied PGF on t h e TOP o f f i v e normal owl monkeys 2a

TOP (mm kg; mean f Sm) PGF, a A B P**

(dose /eye) ( i n h r s ) * Eye Eye Treatment Time Treated Control A v s A

Date 0.2 mg -0.25 O.D. o r +O. 25 0. s. + 4 a / i i / - ra + a o r 8/21/78 +24

1.0 mg 0. s. 8/25/78

1.0 mg 0. D. m i r r a

1.0 mg 0. s. 911 2/78

None ( S a l i n e ) 0. u. 9/26/78

-

-0.25 +O. 25 + 4 + 8 +12 +2 4

-0.25 +O. 25 + 4

+12 +24

+ a

-0.25 +O. 5 + 4 +12 +2 4

-0.25 +0.25 + 4 + a +12 +2 4

i9.u 5 n.2 19.2 0.4 NS 20.8 f 0.6 20.0 t 0.8 NS 17.8 f 1.7 10.3 f 1.7 NS 19.0 f 2.0 21.0 f 2.0 NS 18.4 f 1.2 i9 .n f 1.1 NS

18.8 f 0.7 19.0 f n.4 NS 21.8 1.0 20.4 f 1.6 (0.1 15.4 f 0.7 17.4 f 0.8 a . o i 12.0 f 1.0 16.2 f 1.2 <0.001 11.6 f 0.7 1 5 . ~ f 0.8 a . m i 14.2 f 0.4 19.0 f 0.6 (0.001

19.0 f 0.8 19.0 f O . A NS 21.2 f 0.6 19.4 f 0.9 (0.05 17.6 f 1.1 17.6 f 1.3 NS 13.2 f 1.0 16.0 f 1.7 (0.05 11.6 f 0.8 14.6 f 1.2 (0.05 14.2 f 1.4 16.8 f 1.0 (0.05

16.6 f 0.8 16.4 f 0.7 NS

14.6 f 1.7 14.6 f 1.8 NS

18.6 f 1.7 21.4 f 1.8 NS

19.6 1.5 18.8 f 1.2 NS

12.6 0.9 16.0 1.5 (0.05

0.n. O.S. - - 19.8 2 0.4 19.6 f 0.6 NS

20.6 f 0.9 20.4 f 0.9 NS 71.4 f 1.2 21.6 f 1.7 NS 19.8 f 0.9 19.6 f 1.2 NS

21.7 2 0.5 20.8 0 . 6 NS

20.0 f 0.8 20.2 f 0.q N::

*time i n h r s b e f o r e ( n e g a t i v e value) or a f t e r t h e t o p i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n of PGF,a t o one e y e and an equal volune (5 ,,1) o f s a l i n e to t h e c o n t r a l a t e r a l e y e o f each animal. In t h e l a s t experiment: h r s b e f o r e o r a f t e r a p p l i c a t i o n o f 5 ,,l s a l i n e t o b o t h e y e s ( 0 . U . ) .

**2-tailed paired R u d e n t ' s t-test; NS: p>0.1.

sa l ine- t rea tment o r a f t e r u n i l a t e r a l t rea tment w i t h

a low d o s e o f ( 0 . 2 mg) PGF2a did n o t show s i g n i f i -

c a n t lowering of IOP (Table 1 ) .

m e h a l f hour a f t e r t o p i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n o f 1.0

mg PGF2a, t h e r e was an average of 2.0 5 0.3 w p-

p i l l a r y miosis canpared t o t h e c o n t r a l a t e r a l con-

t ro l eyes . A gradual return t o normal pupi l s i z e

(4.8 5 0.2 m) occurred over t h e n e x t 18 h r .

S l i g h t aqueous f l a r e was p r e s e n t i n 4 of 5 e y e s

between 2 and 12 h r a f t e r t h e t o p i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n

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Current

Research Eye

I i I I I I I 1 0 20 40 60 80 100 120

H O U R S

F i g v e 1. lhe e f f e c t s o f t o p i c a l l y appl ied PGFzF,a mean o f t h e d i f f e r e n c e s i n IOP ( t r e a t e d - c o n t r o l (1.0 m u e y e ) on the I O P o f normal owl mmkey e y e s e y e ) o b t a i n e d on f i v e a n i m a l s and t h e limits r e l a t i v e to t h e I o p o f t h e c o n t r a l a t e r a l ( s a l i n e r e p r e s e n t t 1 SM. t r e a t e d ) c o n t r o l eye . The p o i n t s r e p r e s e n t t h e

of 1.0 mg of PGF2a. A t 48 hr, a few ce l l s were ob- served i n 3 o f t h e 5 t r e a t e d , b u t i n none o f t h e

control eyes . There was no apparent c o r r e l a t i o n

between IOP r e d u c t i o n and t h e p-esence o f f l a r e and

ce l l s i n t h e a n t e r i o r chamber, i .e . t h e o c u l a r

h y p o t e n s i o n was n o t a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a n o t a b l e

i n f l a m a t o r y response. S t u d i e s on a glaucomatous owl monkey eye

When purchased, one female monkey had e y e s ex- h i b i t i n g a marked a n i s o c o r i a with t h e r i g h t pupi l

being a c o n s i s t e n t 2 mn l a r g e r than t h e l e f t . Gonioscopic exanina t ion of t h e r i g h t eye revealed

a n g l e recessim. Ophthalmoscopic e x a n i n a t i o n b y a

p a c t i c i n g ophtha lmologis t (Dr . E. D. Sr in ivasan)

revea led asymnetr ic c u p t o - d i s c r a t i o s wi th deep

excavat ion o f t h e c u p and temporal d i s c p a l l o r i n t h e r i g h t e y e , me cornea o f t h i s eye showed d i f - f u s e s t r u n a l haze and moderate e d m a w i t h micro- cystic changes, b u t t h e r e was no evidence o f en-

d o t h e l i a l cel l l o s s , c o r n e a l scars or r e c e n t i n j v y

to t h e eye. U l t r a s o n i c measurenents by m. Jackson C o l a a n ' s l a b o r a t o r y showed a n t e r i o r chamber d e p t h s

o f 4.4 and 3 .7 mn and axial l e n g t h s of 14.6 and

12.7 nun for t h e r i g h t and l e f t e y e s , r e s p e c t i v e l y .

Repeated exanina t ion over a one-year per iod p i o r t o t h e t ime PGF was appl ied showed t h a t t h e pl-

p i l l a r y d iameter o f t h e r i g h t eye (9 mn) mas con- s i s t e n t l y l a r g e r than t h a t of t h e l e f t e y e (7 mm),

b u t bo th p u p i l s c o n s t r i c t e d to 1 mn 20 min a f t e r t h e t o p i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n o f 0.5% p i l o c a r p i n e . The

mean o f 46 IOP measurements taken over a per iod of

one year was 47.2 0.7 and 24.5 5 0.6 mn Hg f o r

t h e r i g h t and l e f t e y e s r e s p e c t i v e l y . Fleven

20 * months b e f o r e t h i s s t u d y on t h e e f f e c t s of PGF

t o p i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n of 1% p i l o c a r p i n e reduced t h e

IOp by 4 mn Hg i n t h e l e f t eye, b u t r a i s e d the IOP

of t h e r i g h t eye by 16 mn lg. Cutotremorine (0.05%)

also increased t h e IOp o f t h e r i g h t eye.

20

Within 20 min a f te r a p p l i c a t i o n of 1.0 mg o f

pGF2a to t h e r i g h t e y e of t h i s owl monkey, IOP

dropped p a n an average p-e t rea tment value of 50 mn Hg t o 3 mn lg, followed b y a more gradual d e c l i n e

d v i n g t h e n e x t 12 h r , u l t i m a t e l y reaching a va lue s i m i l a r t o t h a t o f t h e c o n t r o l e y e and a s low a s 14

mm lg ( F l g . 2 ) . lhe IOP o f t h e tw, eyes then re- mained s i m i l a r for about 3 d a y s , followed b y a gradual r e t u r n i n t h e r i g h t eye to p-e t rea tment IOP

l e v e l s o f 50 mn lg. During t h i s per iod o f nonno-

207

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Current Eye Research

40 01 I

RIGHT EYE r HOURS

Figure 2. Reduction o f TOP i n a g laucanatous owl monkey eye fol lowing t o p i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n o f 1.0 mg

t e n s i o n , t h e r e was marked c l e a r i n g o f t h e cornea l

haze o f t h e r i g h t e y e , b u t t h i s haze reappeared a s

t h e I O P r o s e t o i t s b a s e l i n e v a l u e s i n t h e 40-50 mn Hg range. kbwever, f o r s e v e r a l weeks t h e r e a f t e r ,

t h e IOP o f t h i s eye appeared t o be much more l a b i l e

than it was before t h e PGF a p p l i c a t i o n . 2a

DISCUSSION

The p-esent r e s u l t s c l e a r l y show t h a t t o p i c a l -

l y appl ied PGF2 can cause a prolonged and h ighly s i g n i f i c a n t IOP r e d u c t i o n i n normal and glaucana-

t o u s owl monkey e y e s . A dose of 1.0 mg PGF i n t h e owl monkey eye p r o d u c e s an IOP r e d u c t i o n

canparable i n e x t e n t t o t h a t caused by 5 ug PGF 2a

i n t h e r a b b i t eye ( 2 ) . lhe need for a higher dose

was a n t i c i p a t e d , s i n c e it was shown t h a t p r imates

a r e less s e n s i t i v e than r a b b i t s t o t h e o c u l a r

e f f e c t s of PGs (3 ) . Mwever, t h e d u r a t i o n of IOP

r e d w t i o n was much longer i n t h e o d monkeys than

was previous ly observed i n r a b b i t s (2) . This sug-

g e s t s t h a t t h e r e i s an i n h e r e n t d i f f e r e n c e between

t h e s e two s p e c i e s with r e s p e c t t o t h e mechanism of a c t i o n and/or b i o a v a i l a b i l i t y o f PGs. lhis conclu-

s ion is supported by t h e observa t ion t h a t a l t h o t g h

increas ing t h e dose o f PGF increased t h e d v a t i o n

o f hypotony i n r a b b i t s , t h i s hypotony could not be extended beyond 20 h r i n t h a t species wi thout caus-

ing a breakdown o f t h e blood-aqueous b a r r i e r and

a

20

2a

DAYS

o f PGF,a.

i n d w i n g a p-onomced i n i t i a l i n c r e a s e i n IOp ( 2 ) .

It should be noted t h a t t h e long term reduc-

t i o n of I O P caused by twice d a i l y t o p i c a l epine-

phr ine a p p l i c a t i o n t o r a b b i t e y e s was shown t o be

blocked by indanethac in r e t r e a t m e n t ( 1 n) . This

s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e hypotony produced b y ep inephr ine

may be dependent upon endogenous s y n t h e s i s o f cy-

clooxygenase products and, i n f a c t , t h e hypotony

may be media ted , a t l e a s t i n part, b y PGs . There is accunula t ing evidence t h a t t h e r a b b i t

eye is s i n g u l a r l y a t y p i c a l anong t h e eyes o f ver te -

b r a t e s , e s p e c i a l l y with r e s p e c t t o sane a s p e c t s o f

t h e p-os tag landin system (11 .12) . l h u s , much of

t h e prev ious work on t h e o c u l a r e f f e c t s of PGs w i l l

have to be repea ted on o t h e r species. i n c l d i n g

pr imates , b e f o r e t h e i r a p p l i c a b i l i t y t o t h e hunan

eye can be e v a l u a t e d . mi le t h e r e may be s p e c i e s

v a r i a t i o n even among pr imates , p re l iminary exper i -

ments i n o u l a b o r a t o r y ( 1 3 ) i n d i c a t e t h a t , l i k e i n

t h e owl monkey, t o p i c a l l y appl ied PGF2a a l s o h a s

hypotens ive e f f e c t s on eyes of r h e s u s monkeys.

Furthennore, it should be noted t h a t PGF was

f o m d t o reduce I O P when adminis te red by i n t r a -

u t e r i n e or in t ravenous i n j e c t i o n to pregnant wanen

t o i n d w e a b o r t i o n s ( 6 1. mese c o n s i d e r a t i o n s

sugges t t h a t t o p i c a l l y appl ied PCS, or t h e i r ana-

logues . may p-ovide a more d i r e c t approach t o t h e

therapy o f glaucana than a d r e n e r g i c a g e n t s and

2a

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Current

Research Eye

r e l a t e d drugs .

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The a u t h o r s wish t o thank Fs. D.J. Coleman

and h i s s t a f f f o r p e r f o r m i n g t h e u l t r a s o u n d measurements, B.D. Sr in ivasan f o r exanining t h e o c u l a r hyper tens ive animal and J.E. Pike of The Upjohn Co., Kalamazoo, M I f o r p r o v i d i n g t h e pros tag landins used i n t h i s stucly. We m u l d a l s o l i k e t o thank R . A . Baroody. S.Q. Merritt and A. Zaragoza f o r t h e i r a s s i s t a n c e .

T h i s r e s e a r c h was s u p p o r t e d by 1J. S. P. H. S. Research Grants EY 00333 and EY 00402 fran t h e Nat ional Eye m s t i t u t e .

Corresponding author: Laszlo Z.Bito, Ph.D., Department of Ophthalmology, College of P and S, Columbia University, 630 W. 168th St., New York, NY 10032, USA

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11. B i t o , L. Z. and K l e i n , E. M. (1981) The m i q u e s e n s i t i v i t y o f t h e r a b b i t eye to X-ray-induced ocular in f lanmat ion . Mp. Eye ks., m Fess .

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12. B i b , L. Z. and Klein, E. M. (1981) The r o l e o f t h e a r a c h i d o n i c acid cascade i n t h e species. s p e c i f i c X-ray-induced inf lamnat ion o f t h e r a b b i t eye. m v e s t . Cphthal . V i s . Sci. , Accepted f o r p u b l i c a t i o n . 13. S t e r n , F. A . and B i t o , L. Z . ( 1 9 8 1 ) A canpar i son o f t h e hypotens ive and o t h e r o c u l a r effects o f p r o s t a g l a n d i n s E, and F,a on ca t and r h e s u s monkey e y e s . Inves t . Ophthal. V i s . S c i . , Accepted f o r pub1 i c a t i o n .

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