Regulation and bioelectrical effects of cyclic adenosine monophosphate production in the ciliary epithelial bilayer

PURPOSE

To determine whether the intact isolated ciliary epithelial bilayer retains the alpha-2 and beta adrenergic receptor activation and interaction described for whole ciliary processes and whether this pure epithelial bilayer displays bioelectric parameters sensitive to alterations in cyclic adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP) production induced by adrenergic compounds.

METHODS

The intact ciliary epithelial bilayer of the rabbit eye isolated by perfusion was mounted in a specially constructed Ussing-type chamber. The transepithelial potential difference and short-circuit current were monitored for effects induced by agents that stimulated or blocked (some did both) caMP production. Using a radioimmunoassay, the latter were studied in the pure epithelial bilayers and in whole ciliary processes.

RESULTS

A reproducible increase in cAMP production and an increase in the short-circuit current induced in the bilayer by isoproterenol, a nonspecific beta adrenergic agonist, were both blocked by pretreatment with either timolol, a nonspecific beta adrenergic blocking agent, or with para-aminoclonidine, an alpha-2 agonist. Maximal stimulation of cAMP with forskolin in this pure isolated epithelial preparation yields a response that is 60% of the value found in whole processes, indicating that the latter tissue contains responsive sites that are nonepithelial, probably vascular, or perhaps stromal. The degree of inhibition of the beta adrenergic receptor by alpha-2 agonists was not very different in the two preparations. On the other hand, inhibition of the epithelial vasointestinal peptide receptor by neuropeptide Y or alpha-2 agonism was considerably heightened in the pure bilayered epithelial preparation.

CONCLUSIONS

The isolated intact ciliary epithelial bilayer, when stimulated with beta adrenergic receptor agonists, vasointestinal peptide, or forskolin, produces increased cAMP and its transepithelial potential becomes hyperpolarized. These chemical and bioelectrical effects are prevented by pretreatment with either alpha-2 adrenergic agonists or beta adrenergic blocking agents. The results obtained in the isolated intact purely epithelial ciliary bilayer confirm that the ciliary epithelium is the source of adrenergic receptor activation and interaction and support the hypothesis that aqueous humor production is regulated by interactions between epithelial alpha-2 and beta adrenergic receptors.

The effect of hCG on cyclic AMP in rabbit ciliary processes

Experiments designed to address the role of cyclic AMP as a mediator of the eye pressure and aqueous flow reducing effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the rabbit have been conducted. No significant stimulatory effect of hCG on particulate preparations of adenylate cyclase from rabbit ciliary processes could be found under several different experimental conditions. Forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase can, in some biological systems, reveal a significant hormonal cyclic AMP response which is undetectable in the presence of hormone alone. Forskolin did potentiate the effect of isoproterenol on cyclic AMP production by intact rabbit ciliary processes. Cyclic AMP production by intact ciliary processes was not affected by hCG, either in the presence or absence of forskolin. Significant specific binding of iodinated hCG to particulate preparations of rabbit ciliary processes could not be detected. These results dispute the role of cyclic AMP as a mediator of the flow and pressure reducing effects of hCG; however, theoretical and methodological complications relating to this interpretation are discussed.

Intravitreal injection of purified human chorionic gonadotropin lowers IOP in rabbits

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a glycoprotein hormone composed of two dissimilar subunits alpha and beta held together by noncovalent forces. Each subunit contains about 30% carbohydrate and is extensively crosslinked by disulfide bonds. Previous work from our laboratory with commercial preparations of hCG indicated that intravitreal injection of hCG lowered intraocular pressure (IOP). Our work has been extended by using purified hCG obtained by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography of a commercial preparation. With a wide pore octyl silica column and a step gradient composed of dilute aqueous trifluoroacetic acid and methanol, several peaks were obtained. The major peak was shown by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and amino acid analysis to contain both alpha and beta subunits. That this major peak contained intact hormone rather than a mixture of subunits was revealed by its ability to enhance the fluorescence of 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonate and stimulate the release of cyclic AMP from isolated rat testes; subunits of hCG lack these properties. Physiological doses of hCG from this major peak injected intravitreally in rabbit eyes resulted in significant decreases in IOP without associated irritation when compared with contralateral control eyes.

Forskolin lowers intraocular pressure by reducing aqueous inflow

Forskolin is a diterpene derivative of the plant Coleus forskohlii that stimulates adenylate cyclase activity without interacting with cell surface receptors. Forskolin lowers the intraocular pressure of rabbits, monkeys, and humans. In rabbits, net aqueous humor inflow decreases, outflow facility remains unchanged, and ciliary blood flow increases. Tolerance to the intraocular pressure lowering effect did not occur in rabbits after topical doses given every 6 hr for 15 days. In vitro forskolin activates adenylate cyclase of crude particulate homogenates prepared from cultured human ciliary epithelia or from dissected ciliary epithelial processes of rabbit or human eyes. This activation is not blocked by timolol. The stimulation of adenylate cyclase by isoproterenol in vitro is potentiated in the presence of forskolin. Forskolin represents a potentially useful class of antiglaucoma agents differing in molecular mechanism of action from previously used drugs.

Fine structural studies of ciliary processes after treatment with cholera toxin or its B subunit

Delivery of 2 micrograms of cholera toxin (CT), a specific, irreversible activator of adenyl cyclase, via the blood causes dilation of capillaries and stromal edema of the ciliary processes. These morphologic changes occur within 3 h, are maximal at 12 to 24 h, then gradually return to normal by 72 h. In the late phase of hypotony, ultrastructural changes in the ciliary epithelia, similar to Greeff vesicles, are due to a "paracentesis effect" from hypotony, caused by decreased aqueous flow through the eye. Delivery of 2 micrograms of the B subunit of CT (Sub-B) causes very mild capillary dilation and stromal edema of ciliary processes. These changes reach their peak at 3 h, then return to normal at 24 h. No significant damage occurred to the pigmented or non-pigmented epithelium with either agent. No hemorrhage, invasion of inflammatory cells or appearance of fibrin exudates in the ciliary processes could be detected.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of substance P: a study in the eye

A solid phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for quantitation of substance P is presented. The assay measures the capacity of soluble substance P to compete with the solid phase antigen for a limited quantity of specific substance P antibody. The solid-phase antigen consists of a synthetic substance P.poly-D-glutamic acid conjugate coated to polystyrene micro-ELISA plate wells. Soluble substance P and antibodies to substance P are first preincubated together and then added to the wells containing solid-phase antigen. Subsequently the wells are incubated with anti-antibodies conjugated to alkaline phosphatase. The wells are finally incubated with p-nitrophenyl phosphate an the absorbance is read in a spectrophotometer 16--24 hr after the start of the assay. The threshold for detection of substance P was 5--10 pg per well (0.25 ml). Substance P was extracted from rabbit eyes and the values obtained with the present method are compared with previously reported values based on radioimmunoassay.

Ultracytochemistry of cholera-toxin binding sites in ciliary processes

Cholera toxin reduces the rate of aqueous humor in concentrations (10-11M) that do not disturb the morphology of the aqueous-humor forming epithelial cells of the ciliary processes of the rabbit eye. The search for an endogenous mediator of aqueous-humor formation comparable to cholera toxin in its mode of operation prompted us to map the distribution of cell surface receptors for cholera toxin in the ciliary processes of the eyes of rabbits. Cytochemical studies were carried out with the use of conjugates of cholera toxin to fluorescein isothiocyanate (CT-FITC) and to horseradish peroxidase (CT-HRP), and of the B subunit of cholera toxin to horseradish peroxidase (B-HRP). Multiple fluorescent CT-FITC binding sites were observed on the outer nonpigmented epithelial layer near the crests of the processes. Processes incubated with CT-HRP in vitro showed surface staining of 30-40% of the nonpigmented epithelial cells. A prominent reaction product was observed along the basal and lateral plasma membranes of these cells. In vivo studies carried out after arterial infusion of B-HRP showed a reproducible dense reaction product between the apical surfaces of the pigmented epithelium (PE) and of the nonpigmented epithelium (NPE) facing each other. Aggregations of reaction product were observed with the electron microscope in the extracellular space between the apices of PE and NPE. The apical plasma membrane of the endothelium of the blood vessels near the crests of the ciliary processes was stained after either in vivo or in vitro exposure to peroxidase conjugates. These findings indicate that the cell-surface receptors which mediate the action of cholera toxin on aqueous humor formation are very likely localized in the apical plasma membranes of the epithelium of the ciliary processes.

Intraocular pressure and aqueous flow are decreased by cholera toxin

Delivery of 2.1 microgram of cholera toxin, a specific, irreversible activator of adenylate cyclase, via the blood lowers IOP from 17.4 to 11.2 mm Hg in 81/2 hr. decreases net aqueous flow by about 50% in 8 hr, and doubles blood flow to the anterior uvea at 8 to 13 hr. Intravitreal injection of 0.26 microgram of cholera toxin lowered IOP from 15.0 to 9.6 mm Hg, but heat-inactivated toxin had no effect on IOP. The toxin activates adenylate cyclase from ciliary processes 2.2-fold and stimulates cyclic AMP production by ciliary processes 7.4 times. Absence of aqueous flare, normal protein concentrations in the aqueous, and histologic examination all confirmed the functional and structural integrity of the blood-aqueous barrier after cholera toxin infusion. The data point to an important role for ciliary process adenylate cyclase in regulation of aqueous flow and maintenance of IOP.