Hypotensive effects after topical and intra-arterial administration of alpha-adrenergic agonists in isolated perfused...

The influence of nonselective and selective alpha-adrenergic agonists on intraocular pressure (IOP) was studied in isolated arterially perfused rabbit eyes. Drugs were given intra-arterially or topically. With either route of administration, no initial hypertensive phase was observed after l-epinephrine, l-norepinephrine, l-phenylephrine (alpha 1), or methoxamine (alpha 1), but there was an immediate ocular hypotensive effect. The alpha 2-agonist B-HT 920 caused a nonsignificant 1 mm Hg fall in IOP.