Consensual Ocular Hypertensive Response to Prostaglandin E₂

¹ Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Ga. 30902

The consensual ocular hypertension to prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) was studied in rabbits anesthetized intravenously with urethane. Intracameral injection of PGEt in one eye consistently elevated the intraocular pressure (IOP) in both eyes and lowered the mean arterial blood pressure (BP). This consensual reaction was dose-related and parallel with the decrease in BP. Topical pretreatment of the contralateral eye with 0.1 ml. of a 1.0 per cent l-epinephrine solution for 60 minutes markedly antagonized the consensual reaction to PGE₂. Similar treatment with 0.05 ml. of a 0.1 per cent 7-oxa-13-prostynoic acid solution for 5 minutes or once every 10 minutes for 5 times did not antagonize the consensual reaction. Following an acute intracranial transection of the trigeminal nerve on the contralateral side, the consensual reaction was increased in one rabbit and decreased in nine other rabbits. Slow intravenous infusion of PGE₂ also increased IOP and decreased BP in a parallel fashion. These results are inconsistent with the reflex mechanism via the trigeminal nerve and agree with our previous hypothesis that the consensual reaction is due to a transfer of PG from the injected eye to the other eye via blood circulation.

Key Words: consensual reaction • intraocular pressure • prostaglandin • trigeminal nerve • epinephrine • 7-oxa-13-prostynoic acid

Submitted on April 26, 1972
Accepted on July 26, 1972