A model of the oscillatory mechanical forces in the conventional outflow pathway
File(s)rsif.2018.0652.pdf (1.12 MB)
Published version
Author(s)
Sherwood, Joseph M
Stamer, W Daniel
Overby, Darryl R
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Intraocular pressure is regulated by mechanosensitive cells within the conventional outflow pathway, the primary route of aqueous humour drainage from the eye. However, the characteristics of the forces acting on those cells are poorly understood. We develop a model that describes flow through the conventional outflow pathway, including the trabecular meshwork (TM) and Schlemm’s canal (SC). Accounting for the ocular pulse, we estimate the time-varying shear stress on SC endothelium and strain on the TM. We consider a range of outflow resistances spanning normotensive to hypertensive conditions. Over this range, the SC shear stress increases significantly and becomes highly oscillatory. TM strain also increases, but with negligible oscillations. Interestingly, TM strain responds more to changes in outflow resistance around physiological values, while SC shear stress responds more to elevated levels of resistance. A modest increase in TM stiffness, as observed in glaucoma, suppresses TM strain and practically eliminates the influence of outflow resistance on SC shear stress. As SC and TM cells respond to mechanical stimulation by secreting factors that modulate outflow resistance, our model provides insight regarding the potential role of SC shear and TM strain as mechanosensory cues for homeostatic regulation of outflow resistance and hence intraocular pressure.
Date Issued
2019-01-30
Date Acceptance
2019-01-09
Citation
Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 2019, 16 (150)
ISSN
1742-5662
Publisher
Royal Society, The
Journal / Book Title
Journal of the Royal Society Interface
Volume
16
Issue
150
Copyright Statement
© 2019 The Authors. Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which permits unrestricted use, provided the original author and source are credited.
License URL
Sponsor
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
Royal Academy Of Engineering
Grant Number
203-1774
Subaward No.2035687
BMPF_P67271
Subjects
MD Multidisciplinary
General Science & Technology
Publication Status
Published