Direct measurement of pressure-independent aqueous humour flow using iPerfusion
File(s)
Accepted version
Accepted version
Author(s)
Madekurozwa, M
Reina-Torres, E
Overby, DR
Sherwood, JM
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Reduction of intraocular pressure is the sole therapeutic target for glaucoma. Intraocular pressure is determined by the dynamics of aqueous humour secretion and outflow, which comprise several pressure-dependent and pressure-independent mechanisms. Accurately quantifying the components of aqueous humour dynamics is essential in understanding the pathology of glaucoma and the development of new treatments. To better characterise aqueous humour dynamics, we propose a method to directly measure pressure-independent aqueous humour flow. Using the iPerfusion system, we directly measure the flow into the eye when the pressure drop across the pressure-dependent pathways is eliminated. Using this approach we address i) the magnitude of pressure-independent flow in ex vivo eyes, ii) whether we can accurately measure an artificially imposed pressure-independent flow, and iii) whether the presence of a pressure-independent flow affects our ability to measure outflow facility. These studies are conducted in mice, which are a common animal model for aqueous humour dynamics. In eyes perfused with a single cannula, the average pressure-independent flow was 1 [-3, 5] nl/min (mean [95% confidence interval]) (N = 6). Paired ex vivo eyes were then cannulated with two needles, connecting the eye to both iPerfusion and a syringe pump, which was used to impose a known pressure-independent flow of 120 nl/min into the experimental eye only. The measured pressure-independent flow was then 121 [117, 125] nl/min (N = 7), indicating that the method could measure pressure-independent flow with high accuracy. Finally, we showed that the artificially imposed pressure-independent flow did not affect our ability to measure facility, provided that the pressure-dependence of facility and the true pressure-independent flow were accounted for. The present study provides a robust method for measurement of pressure-independent flow, and demonstrates the importance of accurately quantifying this parameter when investigating pressure-dependent flow or outflow facility.
Date Issued
2017-07-16
Date Acceptance
2017-07-14
Citation
Experimental Eye Research, 2017, 162, pp.129-138
ISSN
0014-4835
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
129
End Page
138
Journal / Book Title
Experimental Eye Research
Volume
162
Copyright Statement
© 2017, Elsevier. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Sponsor
Fight For Sight
National Institutes of Health
Grant Number
Ref: 1385
Subaward No.2035687
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Ophthalmology
Aqueous humour dynamics
iPerfusion
Unconventional outflow
Uveoscleral outflow
Pressure-independent flow
Outflow facility
Ocular biomechanics
CONVENTIONAL OUTFLOW FACILITY
TRABECULAR MESHWORK
MOUSE EYES
MICE
DYNAMICS
GLAUCOMA
FLUOROPHOTOMETRY
PILOCARPINE
Publication Status
Published