Study of central regulation of intraocular pressure using ventriculocisternal perfusion

The ability of hypoosmotic solution, prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and clonidine to influence intraocular pressure (IOP) by a central mechanism was studied using the technique of ventriculocisternal perfusion in conscious rabbits. IOP remained unchanged during the perfusion of 150 mOsm artificial cerebrospinal fluid. IOP rapidly increased by 15 mmHg during the perfusion of PGE1 at the dose of 1 or 3 micrograms/min. However, when PGE1 was perfused intravenously at the dose of 1 microgram/min, a similar IOP response was observed. Furthermore, during the ventriculocisternal perfusion of PGE1 a significant systemic absorption occurred. These observations indicate that the ocular hypertension during the ventriculocisternal perfusion of PGE1 is primarily due to the peripheral action of systematically absorbed PGE1. IOP gradually decreased by 3 mmHg during the ventriculocisternal perfusion of clonidine at the dose of 0.1 or 0.33 micrograms/min. Intravenous perfusion of clonidine at the same doses did not change the IOP. These results indicate that clonidine can lower IOP by a centrally mediated mechanism. Ventriculocisternal perfusion of clonidine (0.1 micrograms/min) in rabbits with unilateral superior cervical ganglionectomy lowered IOP in both eyes, indicating that ocular adrenergic innervation does not participate in this centrally mediated IOP response. However, the cardiovascular parameters of anesthetized rabbits were altered by the ventriculocisternal perfusion of clonidine (0.1 micrograms/min), suggesting that a change in systemic hemodynamics is involved in the central IOP effect of clonidine.