EFFECTS OF ANTIGLAUCOMA AGENTS ON GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS IN ORGAN-CULTURED RABBIT TRABECULAR MESHWORK

The effect of antiglaucoma drugs on glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) of the rabbit trabecular meshwork (TM) was studied by organ culture and sequential enzymatic degradation (SED). Whole TM explants from one rabbit eye were dissected into 8 parts, then divided into control, epinephrine-, timolol- and pilocarpine-treated groups. After 2 weeks of culture, and incubation with medium containing radiolabeled precursors for 48 h, GAGs of the TM were isolated and subjected to SED. Treatment with epinephrine significantly reduced the hyaluronic acid and increased the chondroitin sulfate in radiolabeled precursor incorporation rate (p<0.001). Other drugs had little effect. Thus, epinephrine appeared to influence the biosynthesis of GAGs of rabbit TM.