Aqueous humor catecholamines.

The catecholamines norepinephrine, (NE) epinephrine (E) and dopamine (DA) were detected for the first time in the aqueous humor of humans under general anesthesia and monkeys under ketamine. The catecholamine levels in aqueous humor of 9 humans were assayed. NE was 0.796 +/- 0.457 ng./ml., E ranged between 0 and 0.132 ng./ml. in 4 out of 9 subjects, and DA was found in 2 of the 9 eyes. (0. 123ng ./ml. and 0. 318ng ./ml..) Plasma levels were measured in 8 of the human subjects at the time of aqueous sampling -NE was 0.311 +/- 0.171, E ranged between 0 and 0.097 (4 out of 8 subjects) and DA was detected in one subject- 0.037 ng./ml.. Monkey aqueous levels were NE:2.843 +/- 0.668 and DA:0.462 +/- 0.177 ng./ml., with an intact iris. (N = 8 eyes.) NE was 0.497 +/- 0.049, and DA 0.426 +/- 0.218 ng./ml. after total iridectomy. (N = 4 eyes) E was not detected in the monkey under these conditions. Whilst NE may be produced in part by the iris, DA levels were not affected by iridectomy. This implies that DA may be produced by structures unrelated to sympathetic nerve endings of the iris in the anterior segment of the non-human primate eye, perhaps by diffusion from the ciliary body or retina. Ketamine is known to inhibit catecholamine uptake, which may explain the high levels measured in the monkey. Human aqueous catecholamine levels measured under anesthesia may be affected by a variety of the drugs used. It is postulated that dopaminergic neurones and associated receptors may be present in the anterior segment of the eye. This may explain the presence of aqueous humor dopamine and the effects of dopaminergic drugs on intraocular pressure.