Abstract
Purpose:
The presence of biosynthetic enzymes for hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production coupled with reports of its pharmacological action in ocular tissues, suggests a potential role for this novel gaso-transmitter in intraocular pressure (IOP) regulation. In this study, we investigated the effects of H2S (generated from donor, sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), and substrate, L-cysteine) on IOP and aqueous humor (AH) outflow facility.
Methods:
A single dose of H2S-releasing compounds, NaHS and L-cysteine or vehicle (normal saline) was topically applied to each eye of New Zealand Albino rabbits. IOP was measured with a pneumatonometer at baseline and at regular intervals (30 - 120 minutes) until baseline IOP was stable. For AH outflow studies, porcine ocular anterior segment explants with intact trabecular meshwork were perfused with DMEM maintained at 37°C, 5% CO2 and constant pressure of 7.35 mmHg. Stabilized explants were exposed to NaHS and L-cysteine. Explants were also treated with the KATP channel antagonist glibenclamide and H2S biosynthetic enzyme inhibitors, aminooxyacetic acid (AOA), or proparglyglycine (PAG).
Results:
NaHS (1%) elicited a significant time-dependent (p < 0.001) reduction in IOP in treated eyes that reached a maximum at 3 hours and remained sustained for 6 hours. L-cysteine (5%) also reduced IOP for up to 7 hours, achieving a maximal IOP reduction of 28.8% (p<0.01) after 3 hours. Moreover, both compounds elicited a parallel but smaller reduction of IOP in contralateral, vehicle-treated eye. Interestingly, L-cysteine (1 nM - 1μM) caused a dose-dependent increase in AH outflow from porcine anterior segment explants, reaching a maximal effect at 100 nM [153 ± 7.2% of basal (mean ± SE)]. The effect of L-cysteine (100 nM) on AH outflow was completely attenuated by AOA (30 μM) and PAG (1 mM). NaHS (100 nM - 10 µM) also produced a concentration-dependent increase in AH outflow, reaching a maximal effect at 10 μM. In addition, the enhancement of outflow caused by both NaHS (10 μM) and L-cysteine (100 nM) was inhibited significantly (p < 0.01) by glibenclamide (100 µM).
Conclusions:
We conclude that compounds that produce H2S can lower IOP in normotensive rabbits. In porcine eyes, the H2S-induced decrease in IOP is due to an increase in AH outflow via the trabecular meshwork. Furthermore, the H2S-induced increase in AH outflow is dependent upon the intramural biosynthesis of H2S and, is mediated by KATP channels.
Keywords: 427 aqueous •
568 intraocular pressure •
633 outflow: trabecular meshwork