Parasympathomimetic Effect of Aqueous Humor in Human Eyes with and Without Chronic Simple Glaucoma

Abstract

A study was made of the biologic effect of aqueous humor from 17 human eyes prepared according to the method Engelhart had applied to animals. Each eye was prepared by the installation of eserine and the subsequent exposure to light. The primary aqueous humor was then withdrawn and bioassay done by perfusion of an isolated frog heart. The aqueous humor from each of 10 eyes without glaucoma produced a parasympathomimetic effect on the cardiac contractions. In each of two cases where the test could be duplicated this effect was inhibited by atropine sulphate suggesting the relationship of the parasympathomimetic agent to acetylcholine. In the aqueous humor of 7 human eyes with chronic simple glaucoma, no such parasympathomimetic effect could be demonstrated by this method.