Prostaglandins E1 and E2, but not F2alpha or latanoprost, inhibit monkey ciliary muscle contraction.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of prostaglandin (PG) E1, E2, F2alpha, and latanoprost acid on the electrically evoked contractile response of isolated rhesus monkey ciliary muscle.

METHODS

Longitudinal ciliary muscle preparations from rhesus monkeys were mounted in an organ bath, and tension changes were recorded by an isometric transducer. Electrical field stimulation (100 Hz, 0.3 ms, 10 V) was applied through a pair of platinum plate electrodes.

RESULTS

The ciliary muscle produced atropine-sensitive excitatory contraction in response to field stimulation. PGE1 and PGE2 (1 microM) attenuated the contraction to levels that were 68% and 65.1%, respectively, of the normal amplitude. However, PGF2alpha and latanoprost acid (1 microM) did not significantly change the response amplitude.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that PGF2alpha and latanoprost acid do not interact with the prostanoid receptor involved at the pre- and/or postsynaptic site. Therefore, it is unlikely that the hypotensive action by these agents is due to relaxation of the ciliary muscle.