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Abstract #20878 Published in IGR 10-2
Is there a relationship between blood pressure and intraocular pressure? An experimental study in hypertensive rats
Vaajanen A; Mervaala E; Oksala O; Vapaatalo HCurrent Eye Research 2008; 33: 325-332
PURPOSE: Evaluation of relation between blood pressure (BP) and intraocular pressure (IOP) in two hypertensive rat strains: spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and double transgenic (dTGR) (harboring human renin and angiotensinogen genes) rats, and in their normotensive control Wistar Kyoto and Sprague Dawley rats, respectively. METHODS: Each rat strain was divided into medicated and non-medicated groups. Medicated rats were treated orally with an angiotensin II receptor type 1 blocker. IOP was measured using a specific rebound tonometer and BP by a tail-cuff method. Both parameters were determined in conscious animals every second week. For comparison, at the end of the study, IOP was measured in conscious and anesthetized rats. RESULTS: The baseline IOP was higher in hypertensive rats vs their normotensive controls. Eight weeks of treatment with an angiotensin type 1 receptor blocker did not prevent a slight increase in IOP, although it abolished the development of hypertension in SHR. The markedly elevated IOP was reduced in medicated and non-medicated dTGR animals during the short follow-up period. General anesthesia reduced IOP significantly. CONCLUSION: The results suggest a positive relation between BP and IOP in hypertensive rats.
Dr. A. Vaajanen, Institute of Biomedicine, Pharmacology, University of Helsinki, Finland
Classification:
6.1.3 Factors affecting IOP (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods > 6.1 Intraocular pressure measurement; factors affecting IOP)
5.1 Rodent (Part of: 5 Experimental glaucoma; animal models)
