A study on the postulated transoptic regulation of the intraocular pressure.

The possibility that fibers regulating the intraocular pressure originate in the hypothalamus and course in the optic nerve, has been investigated in albino rabbits with different techniques. By means of horseradish perixodase tracing-technique, oculohypothalamic but no hypothalamoocular connections were observed. The water-loading effect on the intraocular pressure was studied after unilateral optic nerve transection. The transection was performed in three experimental groups in the following way: Intracranial transection of one optic nerve, retrobulbar transection of one optic nerve and sham operation on the other side, retrobulbar transection of one optic nerve without sham operation on the other side. In contrast to previous reports, we found no significant side difference in intraocular pressure after water-loading in any of these groups.