Selective alpha 2-adrenergic agonists B-HT 920 and UK14304-18. Effects on aqueous humor dynamics in monkeys
J. B. Serle, S. Steidl, R. F. Wang, T. W. Mittag and S. M. Podos
Department of Ophthalmology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029.
Selective alpha 2-adrenergic agonists UK14304-18 and B-HT 920 were
evaluated in the eyes of cynomolgus monkeys. In normal monkeys, unilateral
topical application of 0.3%, 0.5%, or 1% UK14304-18 or B-HT 920 reduced (P
less than .05) intraocular pressure bilaterally up to 9.9 +/- 1.2 mm Hg
(mean +/- SEM) and 8.4 +/- 1.4 mm Hg in treated and contralateral eyes,
respectively. Five-day twice-daily 0.5% UK14304-18 administration reduced
(P less than .05) intraocular pressure up to 49% in eight glaucomatous
monkeys. In eight normal monkeys, 0.5% B-HT 920 and 0.5% UK14304-18
produced no alterations in outflow facility. Following unilateral
application of 0.5% B-HT 920 or 0.5% UK14304-18, fluorophotometrically
measured aqueous humor production was reduced (P less than .05) bilaterally
up to 67% compared with baseline values. Also, 0.5% UK14304-18 reduced (P
less than .025) systolic and diastolic blood pressure. UK14304-18 and B-HT
920 seem to reduce intraocular pressure by decreasing aqueous production.
They are potential new agents for the treatment of glaucoma.
