Forskolin suppresses sympathetic neuron function and causes ocular hypotension

Recent reports suggest that forskolin can produce ocular hypotension in laboratory animals and man by enhancing formation of cyclic AMP. This proposed mechanism of action implies that forskolin lowers intraocular pressure (IOP) by activating adenylate cyclase at some postjunctional site. Intra-arterial (i.a.) injections of forskolin (10, 33, 100 & 333 micrograms) into the cat nictitating membrane (CNM) preparation produced dose-related inhibition of contractions elicited by electrical stimulation of pre-and postganglionic sympathetic neurons. Interestingly, contractions elicited by i.a. norepinephrine were inhibited less than neuronally mediated contractions. Topically applied forskolin (0.5 mg) to the eyes of unilaterally sympathectomized (SX) rabbits and normal rabbits elicited ocular hypotension in the innervated eyes only. Forskolin (0.5 mg, topically) suppressed the rise in IOP induced by water loading in normal rabbits but was significantly less effective in SX rabbits. These results suggest that forskolin lowered IOP in rabbits and suppressed contraction of the electrically-stimulated CNM, in part, by inhibiting sympathetic neuronal function.