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Perfusion outflow facility in the rabbit eye. Stabilization by EACA.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
|February 1, 1985
Summary
The serine protease inhibitor epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA) significantly reduces the washout effect in eye perfusion studies. This finding suggests EACA can improve aqueous humor dynamics research by minimizing perfusion-induced changes.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Physiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Prolonged eye perfusion studies are limited by the washout effect, an increase in apparent outflow facility.
- Understanding aqueous humor dynamics requires overcoming these perfusion-induced artifacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA) in attenuating the washout effect during eye perfusion.
- To determine if EACA can improve the reliability of aqueous humor dynamics studies.
Main Methods:
- Postmortem rabbit eyes were perfused at constant pressure using saline.
- Perfusates either contained EACA (3.8 X 10(-3) M) or leucine as a control.
- Outflow facility over time was measured, and washout slopes were calculated via linear regression.
Main Results:
- Eyes perfused with EACA exhibited significantly lower washout slopes compared to control eyes (P < 0.001).
- The addition of EACA dramatically attenuated the time-dependent increase in apparent outflow facility.
- This indicates a reduction in the washout effect when EACA is included in the perfusate.
Conclusions:
- A significant component of the washout effect in eye perfusion may be mediated by fibrinolytic activity or other EACA-sensitive pathways.
- EACA shows promise as an additive to perfusates for blunting the washout effect in prolonged eye perfusion studies.
- This could enhance the accuracy and utility of research into aqueous humor dynamics.