Tafluprost, a prostaglandin F_2α-type agonist, elicits the endothelium-dependent dilation of isolated porcine retinal arterioles

Abstract

Purpose : Tafluprost, a prostaglandin F_2α–type agonist, lowers intraocular pressure. Our previous study reported that tafluprost increased the retinal blood flow in cats. However, the mechanism underlying the effect of tafluprost on the retinal microcirculationis unknown. Therefore, we examined the direct effect and underlying mechanism of the vasomotor action of tafluprost in porcine retinal arterioles.

Methods : The porcine retinal arterioles were isolated, cannulated, and pressurized (55 cm H₂O) without flow for this in vitro study. The diametric changes were recorded using videomicroscopic techniques.

Results : The retinal arterioles dilated in a dose-dependent (10 nM-10 µM) manner in response to tafluprost. The tafluprost-induced vasodilation decreased with removal of the endothelium and N^G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. However, the tafluprost-induced vasodilation was unaffected by tetraethylammonium, a nonselective potassium channel blocker.

Conclusions : Tafluprost elicited endothelium-dependent dilation of the retinal arterioles.

This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.