Aqueous Humor and Intraocular Pressure Flashcards
What is the major drug detoxification site in the eye?
ciliary body
What are some key functions of the ciliary body?
- formation of aqueous humor
- generation of IOP
- maintenance of IOP through formation of aqueous humor, modification of the trabecular meshwork through muscular contracture, and anatomic opening of the non-conventional outflow pathway
- accommodation
- blood and nerve supply to the anterior segment
- formation of blood-aqueous barrier
What are the two distinct portions of the avian ciliary body?
anterior and posterior
What are the three main mechanisms of aqueous humor formation?
- active secretion
- ultrafiltration
- simple diffusion
Why does plasmoid aqueous in domestic species clot easily?
because it possesses high levels of fibrinogen
What is the refractive index of aqueous humor?
1.355
What account for the difference between the anterior chamber and posterior chamber concentrations of some compounds?
The metabolic needs of the cornea and lens will lead to differences.
What are the chemical components of aqueous humor, and are the concentrations of these compounds generally higher or lower in the aqueous humor compared to plasma?
-proteins
-immunoglobulins
-enzymes
-lipids
Generally much lower in in the aqueous compared to plasma.
What is the relative concentration of carbohydrates found in the aqueous humor compared to the plasma?
Generally 80% of what is found in plasma, which is most limey a reflection of their use by the lens and cornea rather than by the blood aqueous barrier.
Characterize urea in the aqueous humor compared to plasma.
Generally 80% of what is found in plasma, likely due to slow penetration through the blood aqueous barrier.
In general, what is the difference in concentration of amino acids between the aqueous and plasma?
Amino acids are typically found in greater concentrations in the aqueous, which suggest an active transport mechanism.
For which species are amino acids lower in the aqueous comported to the plasma, and why might this be?
The dog, where the vitreous may act as a sink for amino acids that enter the anterior chamber.
What are the major cations in the aqueous humor?
sodium (makes up 95%), potassium, calcium and magnesium
What are the major anions in the aqueous humor?
chloride, bicarbonate, phosphate, ascorbate, and lactate.
Lactate in the aqueous humor is found in higher or lower concentration relative to plasma?
Much higher
What is the relationship between sodium, chloride and bicarbonate in the aqueous humor?
the combined concentration of bicarb and chloride must equal that of NaCl, because the anion and cations concentrations much balance each other out. Bicarb and chloride also follow sodium into the aqueous humor during active secretion.
What is the concentration of ascorbate in the aqueous humor compared to the plasma, and what is the proposed mechanism behind the difference?
Ascorbate is found in higher concentrations in the aqueous humor due to an active transport mechanism.
What are the proposed functions of ascorbate in the aqueous humor?
- storage of chatecholamines in the iris
- cofactor in electron transfer reactions
- reducing agent in hydroxylation reactions
- partially absorbs ultraviolet radiation
- antioxidant
- helps regulate production of GAG’s in trabecular meshwork
Are aqueous humor levels of ascorbate higher in diurnal or nocturnal animals, and what is the possible significance?
Higher in diurnal animals suggesting protection against light induced damage.
What is the most important factor in aqueous humor production?
active transport of certain solutes by the ciliary epithelium
What is the rate of aqueous humor production most dependent on, and what enzyme is chiefly responsive for this?
- The rate of solute secreation/transfer into the aqueous humor.
- carbonic anhydrase
What likely accounts for the majority of outflow resistance in the conventional outflow pathway?
Trabecular Meshwork ( also called the juxtacanalicular zone)
The back pressure created by venous system (either scleral venous plexus or Schlemm’s canal) accounts for approximately how much of resistance.
50-75%
Venous pressure in all species studies is determined to be between what?
8-12mmHg
AV anastomosis in the episclera has been demonstrated in what species?
- rabbit
- dog
- owl monkey
- cynomoglus monkey
Briefly describe the proposed importance of AV anastamosis in the episclera of those species that possess it.
May function in the rabbit and dog (species which do not have capillary beds in the episclera) as an emergency system to elevate IOP after anterior chamber paracentesis
What does the term pseudofacility refer to?
pressure-dependent ultrafiltration formation of aqueous humor (could be altered during measurement of IOP, so this is factored into the equation)
To what degree can pseudofacility account for error in the measurement of aqueous humor flow
up to 20% error
In the cat, a center in what part of the brain has been shown to cause changes in IOP when stimulated?
diencephalon
What factors that have regulatory roles in the renal epithelium may also effect IOP.
- antidiuretic hormone
- cortisol
- prolactin
What factors affect unconventional (uveoscleral) outflow?
- the state of the ciliary body
- hydrostatic pressure difference between the anterior chamber and suprachoroidal space.
Contraction of the ciliary musculature does what to uveoscleral outflow?
Decreases it (likely due to decreased extracellular space)
Uveoscleral outflow accounts for what percentage of outflow in the dog?
15%
Uveoscleral outflow accounts for what percentage of outflow in the cat?
3%
Uveoscleral outflow accounts for what percentage of outflow in the rabbit?
13-25%
Uveoscleral outflow accounts for what percentage of outflow in the primate?
5-40%