Studies of Aqueous Humor Dynamics in Man III. Measurements in Young Normal Subjects Using Norepinephrine and Isoproterenol

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Abstract

The short-term effects on aqueous humor flow dynamics of single doses of l-norepinephrine and d,l-isoproterenol, alone and combined, were studied in selected young, normal males. Norepinephrine reduced pseudofacility without significantly altering intraocular pressure, episcleral venous pressure, or true facility of outflow. The rate of flow of aqueous was increased. Isoproterenol reduced intraocular pressure and decreased aqueous flow without altering true facility of outflow or pseudofacility. Flow curves plotted for the isoproterenol data disclosed a pressure-independent pattern of flow reduction. The combination of norepinephrine with isoproterenol produced changes of the parameters of intraocular pressure similar to those previously observed after l-epinephrine. This study provides evidence that the acute effect of epinephrine in young, normal male subjects is flow reduction from beta-adrenergic stimulation combined with pseudofacility reduction from alpha-adrenergic stimulation.