RHESUS-MONKEY AQUEOUS-HUMOR COMPOSITION AND A PRIMATE OCULAR PERFUSATE

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 18  (11) , 1139-1150
Abstract
The composition of rhesus monkey aqueous humor [AH] was studied in large-volume, pooled samples. Replicate concentration determinations of a number of constituents were carried out for AH and serum from large veins by automatic analyzing equipment. Since AH was obtained by anterior chamber paracentesis, it was a mixture of anterior and posterior chamber aqueous. When compared to serum, the pooled aqueous contained an excess of chloride, bicarbonate, ascorbate, lactate, uric acid and several neutral amino acids. Rhesus monkey AH was deficient in Ca, urea N, phosphates, glucose, protein, creatinine, Fe, bilirubin, cholesterol, triglycerides, a number of serum enzymes, acidic and basic amino acids and several neutral amino acids. Na, K, Mg and 2 neutral amino acids (cysteine and valine) were of equal concentration in AH and serum. Glutathione concentration was very low in AH and serum. Pooled rhesus monkey AH and serum were isosmolar, with measured osmolality around 303 mOsmol. Based upon the chemical analysis, a new solution was formulated to substitute for primate AH during anterior ocular perfusion. This new solution caused very little change in the physiologic integrity of outflow pathways during prolonged, repeated perfusion. These effects are very similar to those during perfusion of pooled rhesus monkey AH. Perfusion of rhesus monkey eyes with glutathione-bicarbonate-Ringer''s solution caused progressive increase of the total facility. To minimize physiologic alterations during operations, a solution similar to this new one could be formulated for irrigation of the inside of the human eye.