Role of pituitary vasopressin in the formation and dynamics of aqueous humour.

The role of pituitary vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone--ADH) in the formation and dynamics of aqueous humour was studied in rabbits employing different techniques. Using isolated ciliary body preparations the changes in transepithelial short-circuit current were measured, and natural vasopressin and Lys8-vasopressin were found to increase the transepithelial short-circuit current at concentrations less than 10 muU/ml (i.e. within the physiological range), indicating increased sodium transport across the ciliary epithelium. In another series of experiments with intact rabbits given an ethanol load to suppress endogenous ADH, administration of exogenous vasopressin raised the intraocular pressure, and a similar effect was observed when endogenous ADH production was stimulated with nicotine. Direct measurements of outflow showed that vasopressin was without effect when given intravenously and that the only effect when given intracamerally was to increase the facility which would tend to lower rather than raise the intraocular pressure. Finally, the intra-arterial and intravenous effects of vasopressin on circulation in the iris and on the intraocular and systemic arterial pressures were studied. Local effects on the vascular bed in the eye and changes in systemic blood pressure were observed only at rates of administration well in excess of the physiological range for endogenous vasopressin production. It is concluded that, at physiological levels, antidiuretic hormone can stimulate active sodium transport into the eye thereby tending to raise the intraocular pressure, and it is suggested that this may act as a homeostatic regulating mechanism limiting changes in the rate of formation of aqueous humour and in intraocular pressure which might otherwise result from diurnal variations in the state of body hydration. This also offers some explanation for the ocular hypotensive action of ethanol.