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Abstract
Aqueous was withdrawn from the anterior chamber of one-year-old male rabbits for one-half hour while intraocular pressure and systemic blood pressure were monitored. Following withdrawal, a sample from each rabbit eye was analyzed for total protein, and another was concentrated by dialysis, then fractionated by cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Albumin/globulin (A/G) ratios were calculated for each sample and correlated with total protein content; aqueous protein concentration was correlated with steady-state intraocular pressure. The A/G ratio of primary aqueous was significantly above that of serum. Only a slight increase in total protein concentration (to 400 mg. per cent) after withdrawal of aqueous caused a precipitous drop in A/G ratio levels equal to or below serum levels. The decrease in A/G ratio of secondary aqueous resulted from a decrease in the per cent of albumin and an increase in the per cent of α- and γ-globulins as aqueous protein concentration increased. The per cent of (β-globulin remained unchanged. Correlation of aqueous protein concentration with final steady-state intraocular pressure suggested a threshold phenomenon for protein release in the rabbit eye when intraocidar pressure approached or fell below expected levels of episcleral venous pressure.