Effect of reproductive status on intraocular pressure in cats.
OBJECTIVE
To measure intraocular pressure (IOP) and progesterone concentrations in cats and to examine their reproductive organs to determine whether reproductive status affects IOP in cats.


METHODS
75 sexually intact domestic shorthair cats scheduled to be neutered, including 28 males, 21 females not in estrus, 13 females in estrus, and 13 pregnant females.


METHODS
Applanation tonometry was conducted to measure IOP and radioimmunoassay was used to determine progesterone concentrations. Reproductive organs were examined at time of surgery.


RESULTS
The IOP in female cats that were in estrus was significantly higher than IOP in female cats that were not in estrus. Progesterone concentrations significantly affected IOP in pregnant cats.


CONCLUSIONS
In cats, IOP is affected by changes in reproductive status. Such changes should be considered when interpreting tonometry results in this species.
Ofri
Ron
R
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
Shub
Nuriel
N
Galin
Zvi
Z
Shemesh
Mordechai
M
Shore
Laurence S
LS
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004971:Estrus; D005260:Female; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000662:veterinary; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular / Q000662:veterinary
D011374:Progesterone