Reversal of intraocular pressure increases with 0.5% apraclonidine after dilated fundus examination in patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma.

BACKGROUND: Apraclonidine 1.0% has been shown to reverse the potential intraocular pressure (IOP) increase after pupil dilation IOP increases in patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma. However, it is only approved for preventing IOP spikes after laser surgery. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of 0.5% apraclonidine in reversing IOP increases after pupillary dilation in patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma were found to have an increase in post-dilation IOP of at least 4 mmHg from pre-dilated levels (baseline) in both eyes. IOP was measured 1 hour after dilation, after which two drops of 0.5% apraclonidine were instilled in one eye and the IOP was remeasured 15 minutes later in both eyes. Instillation of 0.5% apraclonidine in one eye was continued every 15 minutes and IOP was measured 15 minutes after each instillation, until the pressure returned to baseline levels. RESULTS: The IOP of the initially treated eye of all 22 patients returned to within levels clinically insignificant from baseline IOP within 90 minutes. By comparison, the IOP of the control group (untreated eye) remained elevated. Once the initial treatment eye returned to baseline levels, the control group was then treated with 0.5% apraclonidine, resulting in a lowering effect of the IOP in similar fashion to the initial treated group. CONCLUSIONS: Apraclonidine 0.5% appears to be effective in reduction of post-dilated IOP increases in patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma.

Effects of square-wave and simulated natural light-dark cycles on hamster circadian rhythms.

Circadian rhythms of activity (Act) and body temperature (Tb) were recorded from male Syrian hamsters under square-wave (LDSq) and simulated natural (LDSN, with dawn and dusk transitions) light-dark cycles. Light intensity and data sampling were under the synchronized control of a laboratory computer. Changes in reactive and predictive onsets and offsets for the circadian rhythms of Act and Tb were examined in both lighting conditions. The reactive Act onset occurred 1.1 h earlier (P < 0.01) in LDSN than in LDSq and had a longer alpha-period (1.7 h; P < 0.05). The reactive Tb onset was 0.7 h earlier (P < 0.01) in LDSN. In LDSN, the predictive Act onset advanced by 0.3 h (P < 0.05), whereas the Tb predictive onset remained the same as in LDSq. The phase angle difference between Act and Tb predictive onsets decreased by 0.9 h (P < 0.05) in LDSN, but the offsets of both measures remained unchanged. In this study, animals exhibited different circadian entrainment characteristics under LDSq and LDSN, suggesting that gradual and abrupt transitions between light and dark may provide different temporal cues.

Development of circadian rhythms in rat pups exposed to microgravity during gestation.

Ten pregnant Sprague Dawley rat dams were exposed to spaceflight aboard the Space Shuttle (STS-70) for gestational days 11-20 (G 11-20; FLT group). Control dams were maintained in either a flight-like (FDS group) or vivarium cage environment (VIV group) on earth. All dams had ad lib access to food and water and were exposed to a light-dark cycle consisting of 12 hours of light (approximately 30 lux) followed by 12 hours of darkness. The dams were closely monitored from G 22 until parturition. All pups were cross-fostered at birth; each foster dam had a litter of 10 pups. Pups remained with their foster dam until post natal day 21 (PN 21). Pup body mass was measured twice weekly. At PN 14 FLT pups had a smaller body mass than did the VIV pups (p < 0.01). Circadian rhythms of body temperature and activity of pups from two FLT dams (n = 8), two FDS dams (n = 9) and two VIV dams (n = 7) were studied starting from age PN 21. All pups had circadian rhythms of temperature and activity at this age. There were no significant differences in rhythms between groups that could be attributed to microgravity exposure. These results indicate that exposure to the microgravity environment of spaceflight during this embryonic development period does not affect the development of the circadian rhythms of body temperature and activity.

Chronic 2G exposure affects c-Fos reactivity to a light pulse within the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus.

This study examined the effect of the hyperdynamic environment on the function of the retinohypothalamic tract. Rats were exposed to either 2 days or 21 days of 2G via centrifugation. During the last hour of 2G exposure, one series of rats was exposed to a 1 hour phase-shifting light pulse while the second series of rats did not receive a light pulse. In addition a groups of 1G controls was exposed to the same 1 hour lighting paradigm. All animals were processed for c-Fos within the SCN. The 1G controls showed the normal response to light in which significantly greater numbers of c-Fos positive neurons were found in the SCN of the light pulsed rats relative to that of the nonlight pulsed rats. However, rats exposed to 2 days of 2G did not show the same response to light. Light pulsed rats and nonlight pulsed rats exhibited few c-Fos positive neurons within the SCN. A recovery in the effect of light to induce c-Fos reactivity within SCN neurons occurred in the rats exposed to 21 days of 2G. These results suggest that exposure to 2G can temporarily suppress the responsiveness of the SCN to the phase-shifting effects of light mediated by the retinohypothalamic tract.

The effect of spaceflight on retino-hypothalamic tract development.

NASA: Researchers examined the effect of late prenatal exposure to microgravity on the development of the retina, retinohypothalamic tract, geniculo-hypothalamic tract, and suprachiasmatic nucleus. Results indicate an effect on c-fos activity in the intergeniculate leaflet between gestational day 20 and postnatal day 8, suggesting a delay in development of the circadian timing system.^ieng

Changes in hypothalamic [correction of hypothalmic] staining for c-Fos following 2G exposure in rats.

The static gravitational field of the earth has been an important selective pressure that has shaped the evolution of biological organisms. This is illustrated by the evolution of tetrapods from a water environment where gravitational force was partially negated to a terrestrial environment where gravity is of greater consequence. Terrestrial invasion resulted in a series of new structural, physiological, and behavioral features. Therefore, it is not surprising that alterations in the gravitational field can cause widespread effects in many physiological systems and behaviors. Our previous studies have demonstrated that both exposure to hyperdynamic fields and the microgravity condition of space flight have significant effects on body temperature, heartrate, activity, feeding, drinking, and circadian rhythms. However, it has not been determined whether these physiological adaptations are associated with changes in neural activity within the hypothalamic nuclei that regulate these functions. This study examined the changes in body temperature, activity, body weight and food and water intake in rats caused by exposure to a hyperdynamic field. In addition, the immediate early gene activation marker, c-Fos, was used to examine potential protein synthesis changes in the hypothalamic nuclei that regulate these functions.