A possible vascular mechanism for the inhibition of aqueous humor formation by ouabain and acetazolamide

Abstract

Ouabain and acetazolamide have been demonstrated to produce a decrease in the rate of aqueous humor formation in the enucleated, arterially perfused eye. Vasoconstriction was observed with each drug. This finding together with the additional observation that the actions of both ouabain and acetazolamide were completely inhibited by C-6 suggest that under the conditions in which the study was performed the decrease in aqueous production is not due to enzymatic actions on secretion. It is suggested that the mechanism of inhibition may be a vasoconstriction of afferent ciliary process blood vessels to decrease ultrafiltration. A specific receptor site of action for both ouabain and acetazolamide is postulated. © 1975.