This study was undertaken to clarify the effects of glucocorticosteroids on intraocular pressure and the combined effects of acetazolamide and glucocorticosteroid on ocular pressure
Male and female rabbits, weighing 1.7-2.2kg, were divided into 5 groups: 1) saline-treated group, 2) hydrocortisone (0.5%)-treated group, 3) prednisolone (0.5%)-treated group, 4) fludrocortisone (0.1%)-treated group, 5) dexamethasone (0.1%)-treated group.
Drugs were instilled 4 times a day for 3 weeks, and ocular pressure was checked in each group on second and third week. Following 3 weeks instillation of glucocorticoids, ocular pressure was checked in each animal at 15, 30, 60, and 120 minutes after intravenous administration of acetazolamide (10mg/kg). Under 0.5% tetracaine anesthesia, facility of outflow and flow rate of the aqueous humor were also measured with a tonometer.
The results of the experiments were as follows:
1) The mean ocular pressure rose significantly in all glucocorticoid-treated groups, and the rise was especially marked in the dexamethasone-treated group.
2) The mean facility of outflow of the aqueous humor decreased significantly in the dexamethasonetreated group, but it remained !pith little change in the other glucocorticoidtreated group.
3) The ocular pressure-lowering action of acetazolamide was suppressed significantly at 3G minutes after the treatment with acetazolamide in the hydrocortisone and prednisolonetreated groups, but it was not suppressed in the fludrocortisone and the dexamethasone treated groups.
4) The flow rate of the aqucous humor was suppressed significantly (36.27o) at 30 minutes after the treatment with acetazolamide in the control group, but it was not suppressed significantly in glucocorticoid-treated groups.
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