Protective Role of Pilocarpine and Taurine in the Pigmented Retinal Epithelium,in the Retina and Optic Nerve

Overview

Chromatoghraphic analysis under in vivo conditions in bovine eyes revealed thatafter instillation of 3% pilocarpine into the conjunctival sac, 2 and a half hoursafter their last administration, that this alkaloid penetrates also into the posteriortissue structures , i.e. into the pigmented retinal epithelium, central and periphe-ral portion of the retina and optic nerve. The authors recorded its interaction withthe amino acid taurine. The assembled results provide evidence that in theinvestigated tissue structures: 1. the taurine level of all amino acids is present inther highest concentration, 2. pilocarpine increases the taurine level as well as thetotal amino acid level, 3. the ratio of taurine in the total amount of amino acidsdeclined in the pigmented epthelium of the retina and in the peripheral part of theretina, while its rise was found in the cenral portion. Its ratio in the optic nerve didnot change. It was also found that the parasympaticomimetic - pilocarpine whichmaintains the taurine level in the examined tissue structures at the requiredphysiological levels, contributes to the maintenance of their morpholgical structuresand physiological functions. At the same time it has a substantial therapeutic effectin the inhibition of signs of glaucoma in the structures of the eye.

Key words:
taurine concentrations in the posterior segment of the eye, function