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Carbonic anhydrase inhibition increases retinal oxygen tension and dilates retinal vessels

  • Laboratory Investigation
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Abstract

Background

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) increase blood flow in the brain and probably also in the optic nerve and retina. Additionally they elevate the oxygen tension in the optic nerve in the pig. We propose that they also raise the oxygen tension in the retina. We studied the oxygen tension in the pig retina and optic nerve before and after dorzolamide injection. Also the retinal vessel diameters during carbonic anhydrase inhibition were studied.

Methods

A polarographic oxygen electrode was placed transvitreally immediately over the retina or the optic disc in anaesthetised pigs. The oxygen tension was recorded continually and 500 mg dorzolamide was injected intravenously. Retinal vessel diameters were analysed from monochromatic fundus photographs taken before and after injection of dorzolamide.

Results

Baseline retinal oxygen tension (RPO2) was 3.34±0.50 kPa (mean ± SD, n=6) and baseline optic nerve oxygen tension (ONPO2) was 3.63±1.00 kPa. RPO2 was increased by 0.36±0.11 kPa (n=6, P=0.025) and ONPO2 by 0.73±0.34 kPa (n=6, P=0.003) 30 min after dorzolamide administration. The retinal arterioles was significantly dilated by 13±7% (n=5, P=0.016) and the retinal venules by 12±8% (n=5, P=0.030) 30 min after injection of dorzolamide.

Conclusion

Retinal and optic nerve oxygen tension increased with systemic administration of dorzolamide. The retinal vessels dilated, probably causing increased blood flow inducing the observed increase in RPO2. The increased oxygenation of retina by CAI may offer therapeutic possibilities in ischaemic diseases of the retina and optic nerve.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank veterinary technician Mette Olesen, veterinary nurse Letty Klarskov and other staff at the Experimental Surgery Unit, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen for their assistance with the handling of the experimental animals. Supported by University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Merck, Sharp and Dohme, Denmark; University of Iceland Research Fund, Iceland; and Helga Jónsdóttir and Sigurlioi Kristjánsson Memorial Fund, Iceland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, 2061, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 , Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

    Daniella Bach Pedersen, Peter Koch Jensen, Morten la Cour & Anne Kathrine Wiencke

  2. University of Copenhagen, Denmark

    Daniella Bach Pedersen & Jens Folke Kiilgaard

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland

    Thor Eysteinsson & Einar Stefánsson

  4. Merck, Sharp & Dohme, Glostrup, Denmark

    Kurt Bang

Authors
  1. Daniella Bach Pedersen
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  2. Peter Koch Jensen
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  3. Morten la Cour
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  4. Jens Folke Kiilgaard
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  5. Thor Eysteinsson
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  6. Kurt Bang
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  7. Anne Kathrine Wiencke
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  8. Einar Stefánsson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniella Bach Pedersen.

Additional information

These results were partly presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology in May 2002

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Bach Pedersen, D., Koch Jensen, P., la Cour, M. et al. Carbonic anhydrase inhibition increases retinal oxygen tension and dilates retinal vessels. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 243, 163–168 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-003-0817-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-003-0817-3

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