Aqueous humor dynamics in alpha-chymotrypsin-induced ocular hypertensive rabbits

Allometry and Scaling of the Intraocular Pressure and Aqueous Humour Flow Rate in Vertebrate Eyes

In vertebrates, intraocular pressure (IOP) is required to maintain the eye into a shape allowing it to function as an optical instrument. It is sustained by the balance between the production of aqueous humour by the ciliary body and the resistance to its outflow from the eye. Dysregulation of the IOP is often pathological to vision. High IOP may lead to glaucoma, which is in man the second most prevalent cause of blindness. Here, we examine the importance of the IOP and rate of formation of aqueous humour in the development of vertebrate eyes by performing allometric and scaling analyses of the forces acting on the eye during head movement and the energy demands of the cornea, and testing the predictions of the models against a list of measurements in vertebrates collated through a systematic review. We show that the IOP has a weak dependence on body mass, and that in order to maintain the focal length of the eye, it needs to be an order of magnitude greater than the pressure drop across the eye resulting from gravity or head movement. This constitutes an evolutionary constraint that is common to all vertebrates. In animals with cornea-based optics, this constraint also represents a condition to maintain visual acuity. Estimated IOPs were found to increase with the evolution of terrestrial animals. The rate of formation of aqueous humour was found to be adjusted to the metabolic requirements of the cornea, scaling as Vac(0.67), where Vac is the volume of the anterior chamber. The present work highlights an interdependence between IOP and aqueous flow rate crucial to ocular function that must be considered to understand the evolution of the dioptric apparatus. It should also be taken into consideration in the prevention and treatment of glaucoma.

A comparative study of topical natural ergot alkaloids on the intraocular pressure and aqueous humor dynamics in oclular normotensive and alpha-chymotrypsin-induced ocular hypertensive rabbits

BACKGROUND

Although it has been suggested that ergot derivatives may play a role in antiglaucoma therapy, little attention has been paid to the ocular hypotensive action of these drugs. Having previously reported that topical natural ergot alkaloids ergocristine alpha-ergocryptine and ergocornine dose-dependently reduce intraocular pressure in ocular normotensive and alpha-chymotrypsin-induced ocular hypertensive rabbits, the aim of the present work was to compare the effect of ergocristine, alpha-ergocryptine and ergocornine on the intraocular pressure and aqueous humor dynamics in ocular normotensive and alpha-chymotrypsin-induced ocular hypertensive rabbits, in order to further explore the ocular actions of these compounds.

METHODS

Experiments were conducted in albino ocular normotensive and hypertensive rabbits by intracameral injection of alpha-chymotrypsin. Intraocular pressure responses to drug vehicle and seven different doses of topical natural ergot alkaloids were examined, in order to obtain dose-response relationships for comparing the intraocular pressure-lowering effect and potency of these drugs. Tonographies were also performed to ascertain the actions of natural ergot alkaloids on aqueous humor dynamics.

RESULTS

All natural ergot alkaloids tested reduced intraocular pressure in a dose-related fashion. The ocular hypotensive effect was greater in alpha-chymotrypsin-induced ocular hypertensive rabbits for the three compounds tested. All natural ergot alkaloids tested decreased both tonographic outflow facility and, to a greater extent, aqueous humor inflow in ocular normotensive and in alpha-chymotrypsin-induced ocular hypertensive rabbits.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, our data suggest that these compounds decrease both tonographic outflow facility and, to a greater extent, aqueous humor inflow, which explains their final effect in ocular normotensive and in alpha-chymotrypsin-induced ocular hypertensive rabbits. Reductions in aqueous humor inflow observed after topical application of natural ergot alkaloids in alpha-chymotrypsin-induced ocular hypertensive rabbits can only be explained by a marked inhibition of active secretion of aqueous humor, since processes involved in aqueous humor formation may probably be altered after alpha-chymotrypsin injection.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: Design of thioureido sulfonamides with potent isozyme II and XII inhibitory properties and intraocular pressure lowering activity in a rabbit model of glaucoma

A new series of thioureido-substituted sulfonamides were prepared by reacting 4-isothiocyanato- or 4-isothiocyanatoethyl-benzenesulfonamide with amines, hydrazines, or amino acids bearing moieties that can lead to an enhanced hydrosolubility, such as 2-dimethylamino-ethylamine, fluorine-containing aromatic amines/hydrazines, an aminodiol, heterocyclic polyamines (derivatives of morpholine and piperazine), 4-aminobenzoic acid, or natural amino acids (Gly, Cys, Asn, Arg, and Phe). The new compounds showed good inhibitory properties against three physiologically relevant carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isozymes, with K(I)s in the range of 24-324 nM against the cytosolic isoform CA I, of 6-185 nM against the other cytosolic isozyme CA II, and of 1.5-144 nM against the transmembrane isozyme CA XII. Some of the new derivatives were also very effective in reducing elevated intraocular pressure in hypertensive rabbits as a glaucoma animal model. Considering that this is the first study in which potent CA II/CA XII inhibitors are designed and investigated in vivo, it may be assumed that the target isozymes of the antiglaucoma sulfonamides are indeed the cytosolic CA II and the transmembrane CA XII.

Cyclodextrin complexes of sulfonamide carbonic anhydrase inhibitors as long-lasting topically acting antiglaucoma agents

Complexes of several 1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-sulfonamide derivatives possessing strong carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitory properties with beta-cyclodextrin and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin were obtained and characterized. Although the investigated CA inhibitors possessed very powerful inhibitory properties against the two CA isozymes involved in aqueous humor production within the eye, i.e., CA II and CA IV, these compounds were topically ineffective as intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering agents in normotensive/hypertensive rabbits, due to their very low water solubility. On the contrary, the cyclodextrin-sulfonamide complexes proved to be effective and long-lasting IOP lowering agents in the two animal models of glaucoma mentioned above.

Effects of topical natural ergot alkaloids on intraocular pressure and aqueous humor dynamics in ocular normotensive rabbits

Although it has been suggested that ergot derivatives may play a role in antiglaucoma therapy, little attention has been paid to the ocular hypotensive action of these drugs. Having previously reported in our laboratory that topical dihydroergocristine decreases intraocular pressure both in ocular normotensive and alpha-chymotrypsin-induced ocular hypertensive rabbits, the aim of the present work was to assess the effect of natural ergot alkaloids, ergocristine, alpha-ergocryptine and ergocornine, on the intraocular pressure and aqueous humor dynamics in ocular normotensive rabbits in order to further explore the ocular actions of these compounds. Intraocular pressure was measured with a pneumatonometer manometrically calibrated for the rabbit eye. Changes in tonographic facility of aqueous humor outflow and rate of aqueous humor inflow were evaluated in anesthetized rabbits. Natural ergot alkaloids were found to reduce intraocular pressure in ocular normotensive eyes in a dose-related fashion. These compounds decreased both tonographic outflow facility and, to a greater extent, aqueous humor inflow, which explains their final hypotensive effect.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: synthesis and inhibition against isozymes I, II and IV of topically acting antiglaucoma sulfonamides incorporating cis-5-norbornene-endo-3-carboxy-2-carboxamido moieties

Sulfonamides incorporating cis-5-norbornene-endo-3-carboxy-2-carboxamido moieties in their molecules were prepared by reaction of cis-5-norbornene-endo-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride with aromatic/heterocyclic sulfonamides possessing free amino, hydrazino, or imino groups. Some of these compounds showed very good CA II and CA IV inhibitory properties, with affinities for the enzymes in the low nanomolar range. Some of the most active CA II inhibitors reported here have been formulated as aqueous solutions for topical administration as antiglaucoma agents in normotensive rabbits. Some of the derivatives incorporating cis-5-norbornene-endo-3-carboxy-2-carboxamido and aromatic sulfonamide moieties (as sodium salts) showed effective and longer lasting intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering as compared to dorzolamide, a widely used topical antiglaucoma drug. Compounds incorporating cis-5-norbornene-endo-2,3-carboximido moieties, although stronger in vitro CA inhibitors as compared to the corresponding cis-5-norbornene-endo-3-carboxy-2-carboxamido-;derivatives, showed no topical IOP lowering properties, probably due to their very poor water solubility.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: sulfonamides incorporating furan-, thiophene- and pyrrole-carboxamido groups possess strong topical intraocular pressure lowering properties as aqueous suspensions

Important physiological and physio-pathological functions are played by several carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isozymes, which are strongly inhibited by aromatic and heterocyclic sulfonamides. Here we report several new types of such sulfonamides, incorporating furan-, thiophene- and pyrrole-carboxamide moieties in their molecules. Some of these compounds showed very good CA II and CA IV inhibitory properties. with affinities for the enzymes in the low nanomolar range. Due to their relatively low water solubility, some of the most active CA II inhibitors reported here have been formulated as aqueous suspension for topical administration as antiglaucoma agents. in normotensive and glaucomatous rabbits. The derivatives incorporating furan- and pyrrole-carboxamide moieties (but not the corresponding thiophene-substituted derivatives), showed effective and long-lasting intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering both in normotensive as well as glaucomatous animals, with potencies superior to dorzolamide and brinzolamide, the two available topically acting sulfonamide drugs. This is the first example of non-water soluble sulfonamides that significantly lower IOP, being thus similar with the recently introduced drug brinzolamide, which belongs to a completely different chemical family of antiglaucoma sulfonamides.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors - part 78(#). Synthesis of water-soluble sulfonamides incorporating beta-alanyl moieties, possessing long lasting-intraocular pressure lowering properties via the topical route

Reaction of 26 aromatic/heterocyclic sulfonamides containing amino, imino, hydrazino or hydroxyl groups with N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl-beta-alanine (Boc-beta-ala; Boc = t-butoxycarbonyl) in the presence of carbodiimide derivatives afforded, after removal of the protecting group, a series of water-soluble compounds (as salts of strong acids, such as hydrochloric, trifluoroacetic or trifluoromethane sulfonic). The new derivatives were assayed as inhibitors of the zinc enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA), and more precisely of three of its isozymes, CA I, II (cytosolic forms) and IV (membrane-bound form), involved in important physiological processes. Good inhibition was observed against all three isozymes, but especially against CA II and CA IV (in the nanomolar range), the two isozymes known to play a critical role in aqueous humour secretion within the ciliary processes of the eye. Some of the best inhibitors synthesized were applied as 2% aqueous solutions into the eyes of normotensive or glaucomatous albino rabbits, when strong and long-lasting intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering was observed with many of them. Thus, the amino acyl groups conferring water solubility to these sulfonamide CA inhibitors, coupled with their strong enzyme inhibitory properties and balanced lipid solubility seem to be the key factors for obtaining compounds with effective topical antiglaucoma activity.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Part 79. Synthesis of topically acting sulfonamides incorporating GABA moieties in their molecule, with long-lasting intraocular pressure-lowering properties

Reaction of 26 aromatic/heterocyclic sulfonamides containing amino, imino, hydrazino or hydroxyl groups with N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid (Boc-GABA; Boc=t-butoxycarbonyl) in the presence of carbodiimide derivatives, afforded after removal of the protecting group, a series of water-soluble compounds (as salts of strong acids, such as hydrochloric, trifluoroacetic or trifluoromethane sulfonic). The new derivatives were assayed as inhibitors of the zinc enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA), and more precisely of three of its isozymes, CA I, II (cytosolic forms) and IV (membrane-bound form), involved in important physiological processes. Some of the new compounds effectively inhibited CA II and CA IV (in the nanomolar range), the two isozymes known to play a critical role in aqueous humor secretion within the ciliary processes of the eye. Some of the best inhibitors obtained as described above were applied as 2% water solutions into the eye of normotensive or glaucomatous albino rabbits, when strong and long-lasting intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering has been evidenced. Thus, the amino acyl tail conferring water solubility to these sulfonamides, coupled with their strong enzyme inhibitory properties and balanced lipid solubility seem to be the key factors for obtaining compounds with effective topical antiglaucoma activity from the class of the carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.