[Possible mechanisms of inositol phosphate-diacylglycerol signalling pathway in the regulation of intraocular pressure].

To clarify the role of the inositol phosphate diacylglycerol (IP/DAG) signalling pathway in the regulation of intraocular pressure (IOP), the effect of tumor promoter phorbol ester (PMA) and Ca ionophore (A23187) on IOP responses was examined in albino rabbits. PMA stimulates protein kinase C (PKC) directly and A23187 elevates intracellular Ca2+ concentration. In this study, the topical application of 10 microM PMA or 15 microM A23187 slightly reduced IOP. However topical application of both 10 microM PMA and 15 microM A23187 significantly reduced IOP. The maximum IOP decrease was 5.0 mmHg. This decrease was inhibited by pretreatment with 0.5 microM staurosporin, a PKC inhibitor. Quantitative changes of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and PKC activity in cultured ciliary epithelia (CE), stimulated with several ocular hypotensive agents were also studied. When cultured CE was stimulated with 50 microM carbachol, the PKC activity and IP3 content rapidly increased. When CE was stimulated with 50 microM epinephrine, isoproterenol or timolol, PKC activity did not show any change and IP3 level declined. These studies suggest that the IP/DAG signalling pathway somehow mediates aqueous dynamic changes in ciliary epithelia.