Study of Effect Of Pilocarpine On Rabbit Eye

Abstract:
Delivering therapeutic drugs in high concentrations while limiting systemic absorption is
possible with the intraocular method of drug administration. Due to the animal's ease of handling,
affordability, and comparable size to a human eye compared to other mammals, rabbit eyes have been
extensively used in ophthalmic research. Pilocarpine (pye" loe kar' peen), a cholinergic agonist is used to
stuy its effect on various parameters of eye i.e pupil size, corneal reflex and light reflex. The drug
activates muscarinic receptors, increasing parasympathetic activity. The drug belongs to the miotics
family of drugs due to which it causes the pupil size to decrease and corneal and light reflexes remain
present. Hence this drug ,pilocarpine, can be used to treat glaucoma and ocular hypertension by
enabling extra fluid to drain from the eye. By shrinking the pupils, it can also be use as a drug to improve
close-up vision.

1.Introduction:
Prior to the development of intraocular drug delivery, the effectiveness of drug
penetration into the eye was the primary concern of medical therapy for intraocular diseases. Numerous
compounds, including drugs, are prevented from diffusing into the eye by the blood-ocular barrier.
Therefore, it might be difficult to acquire drug concentrations above therapeutic levels. To reach
therapeutic drug concentrations in the eye, intraocular drug administration techniques, such as topical
drops, and intravitreal injections, can directly bypass the blood-ocular barrier.

Rabbit eyes are used as experimental subject in this exeperiment due to its
comparable size to human eye.(1) Tertiary amine pilocarpine is a member of the class of medications
known as parasympathomimetics. The already performed intraocular studies of pilocarpine suggests
that eye drop pilocarpine induces pupil constriction and produces transient blurred vision that lasts for 2
to 3 hours. (2). The corneal and light reflexes remain present.

Pupillary Light Reflex: An autonomic reflex that narrows the pupil in response to light, modifying how
much light enters the retina is called pupillary light reflex.(4)

Corneal Reflex: The corneal reflex is also sometimes referred to as the eye-blink reflex. When
something contacts your eye, this reflex makes you blink in order to shield the surface of your eye from
harm.(5)

Pupil Size: Pupil size is measured by a scale in millimetres. Normal pupil size in rabbits is 6-7mm. In
humans pupil size is measured by pupilometer(1).

2. Materials and Methods:

2.1. Apparatus:
Torch, Cotton, Wooden restrainer, Scale.
2.2. Subject used:
Rabbit Eye.
2.3. Drug used:
Pilocarpine
2.4. Parameter to Study:
Pupil Size, Pupillary Light Reflex, Corneal Reflex.
2.5. Method:
The rabbit was taken and restrained in a wooden restrainer. Before and after the
application of the eye drops, the participant's right eye's vertical pupil diameter was measured
with a scale designated in millimetres. The corneal reflex of both eyes was measured by
touching the eye with cotton. Light reflex was also checked using a torch. The left eye was taken
as a control group for the experiment. All three diameters in both eyes were measured five
times on average before and after the administration of pilocarpine.

3. Results:
The size of pupil measured before the administration of pilocarpine was 8mm ans both corneal and
pupillary light reflexes were present. After application of drug the results are described below in table
1.1.

TIME PUPIL SIZE CORNEAL REFLEX PUPILLARY LIGHT

(MINS) (MM) REFLEX
5 5 present present
10 4 present present
15 3 present present
20 3 present present
25 3 present present

Table 1.1. effect of pilocarpine administration on pupil size, corneal reflex and pupillary light reflex over
the time.

From the above given observations it is concluded that pilocarpine being a parasymthomimetic drug
causes miosis (decrease in pupil size) and corneal and pupillary light reflex remain present.

4. Discussion:
Pilocarpine is a direct acting parasympathetic drug. When it is applied into the eye topically , it
activates pupillary constrictor muscles. It acts on M3 receptors and these activated muscarinic receptors
result in increased intracellular IP3 level that leads to the movement of Ca 2+ ions from endoplasmic
reticulum to cytosol where it forms Ca-calmodulin complex, which leads to the contraction of pupillary
constrictor mucle (miosis)(3).
 Pilocarpine also causes the contraction of ciliary muscles due to which canal of schlem widens.
This effect increase the drainage of aqueous humor and reduces the intraocular pressure. The corneal
and light reflexes remain unaffected by pilocarpine. So, the pilocarpine can be used to treat age related
blured vision and glaucoma.

References:

1. Ahn SJ, Hong HK, Na YM, Park SJ, Ahn J, Oh J, et al. Use of Rabbit Eyes in Pharmacokinetic
Studies of Intraocular Drugs. Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE. 2016(113).
2. Emina MO. Aging and topical pilocarpine concentrations effects on pupil size and tear flow rate:
J Optom. 2010 Apr;3(2):102-6. doi: 10.1016/S1888-4296(10)70014-5. Epub 2010 Nov 4.
3. Drummond PD. The effect of light intensity and dose of dilute pilocarpine eyedrops on pupillary
constriction in healthy subjects. American journal of ophthalmology. 1991;112(2):195-9.
3. Dragoi, Valentin. “Chapter 7: Ocular Motor System”. Neuroscience Online: An Electronic
Textbook for the Neurosciences. Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas
Medical School at Houston.
4. Miller NR, Newman NJ, Biousse, V, Kerrison, JB, et al. Walsh and Hoyt’s Clinical Neuro-
Ophthalmology Sixth edition. 2005;1