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Adrenergic regulation of sodium and chloride transport in the isolated cornea of rabbit and man

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Abstract

Isolated corneas were mounted in Ussing-Zerahn- type chambers and short circuit current (SCC) was measured before and after application of drugs (5 × 10−5 mol· 1−1) interfering with adrenergic receptors. Epinephrine increased SCC in the rabbit cornea and decreased SCC in the human cornea. α-Adrenergic stimulation or inhibition did not affect SCC. The increase in SCC observed after terbutaline (β2-agonist) was similar to the increase after isoproterenol (β1 and β2-agonist). SCC was not influenced by the β1-antagonist atenolol but was modified, although differently in rabbit and man, by the β1- and β2-antagonist propranolol. Thus, the catecholamine response of the rabbit and human cornea is mainly mediated by β2-adrenergic receptors. However, species differences were observed when testing the effect of propranolol on the transcorneal flux of22Na and36Cl. In the rabbit cornea the net Cl flux (directed from the aqueous to the tear side) was inhibited by propranolol, whereas net Na flux (from the tear to the aqueous side) was not influenced by the drug. In the human cornea propranolol reduced unidirectional Na flux from the aqueous to the tear side. Thus, the regulatory effect of propranolol on corneal transparency is different in man and the rabbit.

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Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Wi 328); part of this material has been published in abstract form (Ophthalmic Res 12 : 142, 1980; Pflügers Arch 389 : R 47 [Suppl] 1981)

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Wiederholt, M., Schmidt, D.K., Eggebrecht, R. et al. Adrenergic regulation of sodium and chloride transport in the isolated cornea of rabbit and man. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 220, 240–244 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02308082

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02308082

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