Relaxing effect and mechanism of tafluprost on isolated rabbit ciliary arteries

Effects of Rho-associated protein kinase inhibitors Y-27632 and Y-39983 on isolated rabbit ciliary arteries

“…Therefore, we investigated whether Y-27632 and Y-39983 induced smooth muscle relaxation and inhibited [8], whereas tafluprost inhibits Ca 2? entry from the extracellular space [12]. However, the changes in ciliary artery contraction induced by the Rho-kinase inhibitors were due to a [Ca 2? ]…”

“…This was the optimal diameter for active tension development [24]. After the vessels were equilibrated for 30 min (a sufficient duration to cause steady contraction [12]), the experiments were performed. The myograph system directly determined vessel isometric tension and simultaneously transmitted data to a computer that displayed the tension curves on a monitor.…”

“…Detailed methods for isometric tension recordings using the myograph system have been described by Mulvany and Halpern [25,26]. After the equilibration period, contractions evoked by a high-potassium (high-K) solution were measured during a 20-min interval so as to induce complete relaxation [12] and establish preparation viability and stability. The high-K solution was prepared by replacing NaCl with isotonic equimolar KCl to give a final potassium (K ? )…”

“…However, the underlying pharmacological mechanism is unclear. We therefore investigated the underlying mechanism of these drugs on vascular smooth muscles [6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. We examined whether these drugs relaxed the ciliary arteries by different mechanisms, such as nitric oxide (NO) release and inhibition of voltage-dependent or -independent calcium entry.…”

Tafluprost: a novel prostaglandin analog for treatment of glaucoma

“…24 Dong et al found that tafluprost induced concentration-dependent relaxation of precontracted isolated rabbit ciliary arteries, but by a mechanism that was independent of endothelial-derived factor. 25 28 In a more recent study, commercially available preservative-free tafluprost was applied directly onto the surface of a rat retinal explant culture. 29 The authors noted a reduction of both neuronal and total cell loss from the retinal ganglion cell layer at 4 days ex vivo, compared to controls, although no effect was found after 1 week.…”