Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To estimate the early phenotypic consequences of interbreeding of rhesus monkeys with historical intraocular pressures (IOP) greater than two standard deviations above the population mean estimate (Dawson et al. BJO. 1993, 77, 302). Methods: Eight offspring were chosen randomly from the upper quartile of the offspring IOP distribution (mean higher monocular IOP) resulting from multiple measures (over 2-7 years). Similarly eight individuals in the lower IOP quartile were chosen. Parents were identified and the higher historical (>5 years) monocular IOP means of >10 measures were compared as higher IOP parent group vs the lower IOP parent roup. Results: The low IOP parent group-mean was 15.1 mmHg (SD= 1.64). The high IOP parent group-mean was 19.2 mmHg (SD= 5.7). The between-groups Mann-Whitney U score was 17 (p<0.05) and supports rejection of the null hypothesis. Regression of the high-IOP offspring pressures against their parents' pressures produced r= 0.73 (p= 0.03). The low-pressure, comparable regression produced r= 0.354 (p= 0.4). Conclusions: Compared to the population estimate, the upper quartile offspring mean IOP's were at or above the second SD. The data supports a significant tendency for higher IOP offspring to have high IOP parents. The phenotypic result of selective breeding may indicate the creation of a genotypic bias and offer many new possibilities.
Keywords: animal model • intraocular pressure • genetics