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Allicin-induced hypotension in rabbit eyes
T C Chu1, M Ogidigben, J C Han
1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
Journal of Ocular Pharmacology
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Allicin, a garlic compound, lowers intraocular pressure (IOP) by affecting the neuroeffector junction. It reduced IOP in normal rabbits and inhibited norepinephrine release, suggesting dual actions in the eye.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pharmacology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a major risk factor for glaucoma.
- Garlic compounds, like allicin, have shown various biological activities.
- Understanding the ocular effects of allicin could reveal new therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of allicin on intraocular pressure (IOP) in rabbits.
- To determine allicin's impact on cAMP accumulation in ocular tissues.
- To examine allicin's influence on norepinephrine (NE) release in the iris-ciliary body (ICB).
Main Methods:
- Topical application of allicin and alliin to normal and sympathectomized (SX) rabbits to measure IOP.
- Assessment of cAMP accumulation in rabbit iris-ciliary body (ICB) and cultured nonpigmented epithelial (NPE) cells.
- Measurement of 3H-norepinephrine (NE) release using fractional tritium overflow in response to electrical field stimulation (EFS) in isolated rabbit ICBs.
Main Results:
- Topical allicin, but not alliin, significantly lowered IOP in normal rabbits.
- Allicin (10 micrograms) reduced IOP by 6 mmHg in normal rabbits, with no effect in SX rabbits.
- Allicin inhibited 3H-NE overflow by up to 52% and suppressed isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP accumulation in ICB and NPE cells.
Conclusions:
- Allicin effectively lowers IOP in normal rabbits.
- The IOP-lowering effect of allicin is dependent on sympathetic innervation.
- Allicin exerts its ocular effects through dual actions at the neuroeffector junction, impacting both NE release and cAMP signaling.