Turnover of Total Carbon Dioxide in the Aqueous Humors and the Effect Thereon of Acetazolamide

Abstract

The rate of turnover of free carbon dioxide and bicarbonate ion (total carbon dioxide) in the anterior chamber of the eye of the rabbit has been estimated to be about 4% per minute.¹The separate rates of turnover of the several components of the bicarbonate system were taken into account in making the calculation, but no allowance was made for the possible accelerating effect on the turnover due to the conversion of carbon dioxide to bicarbonate ion. Moreover, the calculated value for the rate also depended upon the validity of the assumption that the difference in the pH between the aqueous humor and plasma before and after giving acetazolamide (Diamox) remained constant, that the drug had no effect on the rate of diffusion of either carbon dioxide or bicarbonate ion, and that the flow rate of aqueous humor was reduced to one-half by the acetazolamide. Since these assumptions may