Effects of Acetazolamide and Carotid Occlusion on the Ocular Blood Flow in Unanesthetized Rabbits

¹ Department of Physiology and Medical Biophysics, Biomedical Center, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden

The labeled microsphere method was used to determine the rate of blood flow in the different parts of the eye in unanesthetized rabbits. The right common carotid artery was ligated. In the control animals the blood flow in the left eye was 7.7 ± 1.0 mg. per minute in the retina, 899 ± 77 mg. per minute in the choroid, 75 ± 7 mg. per minute in the ciliary processes (that could be scraped off the ciliary body-iris preparation), and 50 ± 6 mg. per minute in the rest of the ciliary body-iris preparation. Acetazolamide, 100 mg. per kilogram of body weight, did not cause a statistically significant effect on the blood flow in any of the tissues studied. Ligation of the common carotid artery reduced the blood flow to 66 ± 6 per cent of normal in the choroid, 65 ± 7 per cent in the ciliary processes, and 64 ± 6 per cent in the incomplete ciliary body-iris preparation. The retinal blood flow was not significantly altered by the ligation. The results indicated that acetazolamide reduces the rate of aqueous formation by an effect on the secretion mechanism rather than by an effect on the uveal blood flow. The blood flow through the retinal vessels seemed to be autoregulated. Autoradiographs of the choroid indicated differences in the regional blood flow.

Key Words: acetazolamide • carotid occlusion • blood flow • microspheres • retina • ciliary processes • choroid • iris • autoradiography

Submitted on May 14, 1974

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