Jenaye Robinson

Effects of Hydrogen Sulfide-Releasing Compounds on Aqueous Humor Outflow Facility in Porcine Ocular Anterior Segments, Ex Vivo

PURPOSE To investigate the pharmacological actions of hydrogen sulfide (H2S)-releasing compounds l-cysteine and sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) on aqueous humor (AH) outflow facility in porcine ocular anterior segment. METHODS Porcine ocular anterior segments were perfused with Dulbeccos modified Eagles medium at a constant pressure of 7.35 mmHg. After stable outflow baseline, explants were exposed to NaHS or l-cysteine. The increase in outflow generated by the H2S-releasing compounds was measured in the absence and presence of inhibitor of H2S biosynthesis (aminooxyacetic acid; AOAA), blocker of KATP channels (glibenclamide), and inhibitor of adenylyl cyclase (SQ 22536). Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to assess trabecular meshwork (TM) morphology. RESULTS l-cysteine elicited a concentration-dependent increase in AH outflow facility, reaching maximal effect at 100 nM (150.6% ± 17.2% of basal level). This increase in outflow induced by l-cysteine was significantly (P < 0.001) antagonized by AOAA (30 μM) and glibenclamide (100 μM). AOAA and glibenclamide had no significant action on baseline outflow, whereas SQ 22536 (100 μM) increased outflow for only an hour. In addition, NaHS produced a concentration-dependent increase in AH outflow, with a maximal effect at 10 μM (151.4% ± 22.9% of basal level). Likewise, the increase in outflow caused by NaHS was significantly (P < 0.04) blocked by glibenclamide and SQ 22536. H&E staining revealed that l-cysteine or NaHS did not alter TM conformation. CONCLUSION H2S-releasing compounds can increase outflow facility in porcine ocular anterior segment. The stimulatory action of these compounds on outflow is mediated, in part by endogenously produced H2S, KATP channels, and adenylyl cyclase.

Serotonin-2B/2C Receptors Mediate Bovine Ciliary Muscle Contraction: Role in Intraocular Pressure Regulation

PURPOSE To study the pharmacological profile of the serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) receptor subtype mediating contractions in bovine isolated ciliary muscles. METHODS Ciliary muscle strips were isolated from bovine eyeballs and mounted in organ baths containing aerated (95% O2, 5% CO2) Krebs buffer solution maintained at 37°C. Each muscle strip was attached at 1 end to a Grass Force-displacement Transducer connected to a Polyview Computer System for recording changes in isometric tension. After an equilibration period, ciliary muscle strips were exposed to selective agonists and antagonists of 5-HT receptors. RESULTS Both selective and nonselective agonists for 5-HT produced concentration-dependent contractions of isolated ciliary muscles with the following rank order of potency: BW723C86>α-methyl-5-HT>MK-212>>8-hydroxy-DPAT>quipazine>R-DOI>>5-HT>>tryptamine. The selective 5-HT2 receptor antagonists, M-100907 (5-HT2A), RS-127445 (5-HT2B), and RS-102221 (5-HT2C), produced noncompetitive inhibition of the contractile effects of selective agonists yielding antagonist potency (pKB) values of 251 ± 27.2 nM (n = 4), 52.5 ± 6.3 nM (n = 4), and 79.4 ± 9.5 nM (n = 4), respectively. CONCLUSION On the basis of the profile of activity of selective agonists and antagonists, we conclude that the 5-HT2B and 5-HT2C receptor subtypes appear to be the predominant serotonin receptors that mediate the contractile action of this amine in bovine isolated ciliary muscles.

Pharmacology of Serotonin Receptors Causing Contraction of Isolated Bovine Posterior Ciliary Arteries: Role in Ocular Blood Flow

PURPOSE To determine the serotonergic (5HT) receptor subtype mediating the contraction of bovine posterior ciliary arteries (BPCAs) in vitro. METHODS Longitudinal isometric tension was measured in BPCA strips (4-5 mm) mounted in 25 mL organ baths containing oxygenated Krebs solution at 37°C. Cumulative contractile concentration-response (C-R) curves were generated for various 5-HT agonists to assess their potencies and maximal degrees of contraction. Multiple agonist C-R curves were also constructed in the presence and absence of receptor-selective antagonists to determine antagonist potencies using Schild plots. RESULTS Selective and nonselective agonists for 5-HT receptors elicited concentration-dependent contractile responses in BPCAs with the following rank order of potency: MK-212 > BW723C86 > α-methyl-5-HT >5-methoxy-α-5-methyl-5-HT >> R-DO1 > >5-HT >> cabergoline >> 5-methoxy-dimethyl-tryptamine >> 2-methyl-5-HT >> tryptamine. Interestingly, both 8-OH-DPAT (5HT1A agonist) and quipazine (5HT3 agonist) did not elicit contractions in BPCAs. The contractions produced by BW723C86 (5-HT2B agonist) were antagonized by 5-HT receptor blockers, RS-127445 (5-HT2B antagonist), and M-100907 (5-HT2A antagonist), yielding antagonist pA2 values of 7.5 ± 0.12 (n = 4) and 6.2 ± 0.17 (n = 4), respectively. Furthermore, contractions elicited by MK-212 (5-HT2C agonist) was blocked by RS-102221 (5-HT2C antagonist), although noncompetitively. CONCLUSIONS On the basis of the pharmacological profile of selective agonists and antagonists, we conclude that serotonin-induced contractions of the BPCA are mediated primarily by a combination of 5HT2C and/or 5HT2B receptors. It appears that 5-HT1A and 5-HT3 receptors are not involved in the contractile action of BPCAs to serotonin.