Highly Functionalized Ring B Labdane Synthesis as Key Intermediate in the Route to Forskolin

Sclareol has been employed as starting material for the synthesis of several advanced intermediates towards the synthesis of highly ring B oxygenated labdanes. Dinorlabdanes 6,7,8,9-tetraoxygenated with 6,7-dioxygenated functionalities with α- cis or β- cis dispositions, have been prepared and can be used for forskolin or analogues synthesis.

OcuDrain-E-A noninvasive technique for reduction of intraocular pressure

OcuDrain-E is a noninvasive technique in which electrical pulses are applied across the cornea to enhance the rate of transcorneal water evaporation (TCWE). In vitro studies were carried out with rabbit cornea mounted on a Franz diffusion cell. Application of 30 pulses each of 1millisecond (ms) duration at >or=40V/cm(2) decreased the corneal resistivity approximately 80% indicating permeabilization of the cornea. The corneal resistivity was almost completely recovered within 6h when the pulse voltage was <40V/cm(2). The average TCWE at 40V/cm(2) was significantly (approximately 39-fold) higher than the control (t-test, p<0.0001). Application of electrical pulses (40V-30 pulses-1ms-1Hz) across the cornea resulted in significant decrease in the intraocular pressure (IOP) in rabbits. The electrical protocol was well tolerated by the rabbits. Microscopic studies revealed that the applied electrical protocol did not cause any edema or detachment of the epidermal layers. The results of current investigation suggest that OcuDrain-E could be developed as a potential technique for the treatment of glaucoma in patients who respond poorly to drugs.

Time course of degeneration of the visual system induced by spontaneous glaucoma in the albino quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

The retinal projection of an imperfect albino quail mutant with a sex-linked recessive gene was examined 2 weeks-16 months post-hatch using various histological methods. During the first weeks the visual system was normal. Initial signs of buphthalmos, a form of spontaneous glaucoma, appeared between the 3d and 5th months. Its development induced a degeneration of the retinal projections according to a relatively precise sequence progressing from the mesencephalic tegmentum to the optic tectum, then from the pretectum to the thalamus. The data suggest that the degeneration of the optic axons results from their mechanical compression due to the increased intraocular pressure.