Pharmacological modulation of fluid secretion in the pigmented rabbit conjunctiva

We determined net fluid secretion rate across the pigmented rabbit conjunctiva in the presence and absence of pharmacological agents known to affect active Cl- secretion and Na+ absorption. Fluid flow across a freshly excised pigmented rabbit conjunctiva mounted between two Lucite half chambers was measured by a pair of capacitance probes in an enclosed cabinet maintained at 37 degrees C and a relative humidity of 70%. Fluid transport was also measured in the presence of compounds known to affect active Cl- secretion (cAMP, UTP, and ouabain), Na+ absorption (D-glucose), or under the Cl--free condition on both sides of the tissue. Net fluid secretion rate across the pigmented rabbit conjunctiva in the serosal-to-mucosal direction at baseline was 4.3+/-0.2 microl/hr/cm2 (mean +/- s.e.m.). Net fluid secretion rate was increased approximately two-fold by mucosally applied 1 mM 8-Br cAMP (8.4+/-0.4 microl/hr/cm2) and 10 microM UTP (9.8+/-0.6 microl/hr/cm2), but was abolished by either serosally applied 0.5 mM ouabain (0.3+/-0.1 microl/hr/cm2) or under the Cl--free conditions (0.06+/-0.04 microl/hr/cm2). Mucosal addition of 20 mM D-glucose decreased net fluid secretion rate to 1.0+/-0.5 microl/hr/cm2. In conclusion, the pigmented rabbit conjunctiva appears to secrete fluid secondary to active Cl- secretion. This net fluid secretion is subject to modulation by changes in active Cl- secretion rate and in mucosal fluid composition such as glucose concentration.