Abstract
Purpose:
Differences in aqueous humor dynamics (AHD) were identified before and after puberty in rabbits treated with intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering drugs.
Methods:
Male Dutch-belted rabbits were studied between the ages of 9 and 42 weeks. Body weight, testicular volume, and serum testosterone were monitored throughout. Acetazolamide, timolol, latanoprost and saline were administered before and after puberty and ocular measurements were made of anterior chamber depth, central corneal thickness, IOP, aqueous flow and outflow facility.
Results:
Body weight, testicular volume, and serum testosterone increased until 28 weeks of age, remaining unchanged thereafter. IOP increased during puberty (R2 = 0.49, P = 0.003) and stabilized in adulthood. Mean IOP after puberty (28.7±0.4 mmHg) was higher than before puberty (23.3±0.4, P<0.0001). Aqueous flow and outflow facility were less and central cornea thickness and anterior chamber volume were more post-puberty than pre-puberty. Timolol, latanoprost, and acetazolamide decreased IOP after but not before puberty. Acetazolamide reduced aqueous flow after but not before puberty. No other measurement changed significantly over time.
Conclusions:
As a rabbit matures, the cornea becomes thicker and the anterior chamber volume increases with an increase in globe size. At the same time, outflow facility decreases causing IOP to increase despite a concomitant decrease in aqueous flow. Acetazolamide reduces aqueous flow post puberty causing the IOP to decrease.