The eye relies on the aqueous humor for nutrition of the cornea, lens, vitreous and trabecular meshwork, as well as the removal of the waste products of metabolism from these tissues. Steady formation and discharge of the aqueous maintains the intraocular pressure and the optical shape of the eye. A number of drugs commonly used in the treatment of glaucoma lower the intraocular pressure by suppressing the rate of aqueous formation. The ciliary body epithelium is responsible for the formation of aqueous humor and is the target of these drugs. The objective of this project is to characterize in detail the pharmacology and physiology of drug-induced responses and increases in second messengers activity in this epithelium. The PI is particularly interested in the role of Ca2+. The previous studies on intact ciliary body epithelium and on dissociated epithelial cells have shown that many neurotransmitters and hormones act on the cells of ciliary body by increasing the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration. He will use fluorescence ratio imaging on intact as well as dissociated cells to investigate the pharmacology and physiology of the Ca2+ rise in some detail. He will use intracellular recording on intact tissue and patch-clamp recording on dissociated cells to identify influx pathways for Ca2+,as well as other conductive pathways involved in intracellular Ca2+ increase. He will then attempt to identify and characterize the ion channels and transporters modulated by the Ca2+ rise. The PI hope is that he can identify mechanisms involved in the modulation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration and aqueous formation, which may provide new tools for clinical intervention.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY006969-12
Application #
6125061
Study Section
Visual Sciences A Study Section (VISA)
Program Officer
Liberman, Ellen S
Project Start
1987-09-30
Project End
2001-11-30
Budget Start
1999-12-01
Budget End
2000-11-30
Support Year
12
Fiscal Year
2000
Total Cost
$285,916
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Los Angeles
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
119132785
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90095