[Effect of rilmenidine on intraocular pressure in rabbits, interaction with efaroxan and rauwolscine].
OBJECTIVE
Glaucoma is the main cause of blindness in the developed countries. Its progress can be diminished by decreasing intraocular pressure (IOP) using pharmacological or surgical treatment. Antiglaucoma agents, alpha 2-adrenergic's receptor agonists have been known for several years as IOP lowering. Due to the fact that the majority of them turned out to be imidazoline receptor agonists, it is worth checking if selective imidazoline receptor (l1) agonists alter IOP. Preliminary animal experiments show that they lower IOP. In our study we examined the influence of rilmenidine, a potent l1 receptor agonist, on IOP in rabbits. Furthermore, we tried to find out whether l1 and alpha 2 receptor antagonists (efaroxan and rauwolscine) counteract the pharmacological effect of rilmenidine.


METHODS
The study was conducted on adult male White New Zealand rabbits. All the substances were administered topically, and IOP was measured by applanation tonometry after topical anaesthesia before and 1, 3 and 5 hours after drug instillation.


RESULTS
Rilmenidine showed the lowering effect on IOP at the concentration of 0.4%. Efaroxan and rauwolscine partly inhibited rilmenidine effect.


CONCLUSIONS
Rilmenidine is a potential antiglaucoma agent, though further studies are necessary.
Misiuk-Hojło
Marta
M
Katedry i Kliniki Okulistyki Akademii Medycznej we Wrocławiu.
Szaliński
Marek
M
Merwid-Lad
Anna
A
Trocha
Małgorzata
M
Pieśniewska
Małgorzata
M
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D010080:Oxazoles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011817:Rabbits; D000077769:Rilmenidine; D013997:Time Factors; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D001572:Benzofurans; D007093:Imidazoles; D010080:Oxazoles; D015016:Yohimbine; C062597:efaroxan; D000077769:Rilmenidine