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Abstract #19153 Published in IGR 3-1
The synthetic cannabinoid WIN55212-2 decreases the intraocular pressure in human glaucoma resistant to conventional therapies
Porcella A; Maxia C; Gessa GL; Pani LEuropean Journal of Neuroscience 2001; 13: 409-412
The search for new ocular hypotensive agents represents a frontier in current eye research because blindness due to optic neuropathy occurs insidiously in 10% of all patients affected by glaucoma. Cannabinoids have been proposed to lower intraocular pressure by either central or peripheral effects but a specific mechanism for this action has never been elucidated. We recently demonstrated the presence of the central cannabinoid receptor (CB1) mRNA and protein in the human ciliary body. In the present study, the authors show that the synthetic CB1 receptor agonist, WIN 55212-2, applied topically at doses of 25 or 50 μg (n = 8), decreases the intraocular pressure of human glaucoma resistant to conventional therapies within the first 30 minutes (15 ± 0.5% and 23 ± 0.9%, respectively). A maximum reduction of 20 ± 0.7% and 31 ± 0.6%, respectively, is reached in the first 60 minutes. These data confirm that CB1 receptors have direct involvement in the regulation of human intraocular pressure, and suggest that, among various classes of promising antiglaucoma agents, synthetic CB1 receptor agonists deserve further research and clinical development.
Dr L. Pani, Center for Neuropharmacology C.N.R., B.B. Brodie Department of Neuroscience, University of Cagliari, via Porcell 4, 09124-I Cagliari, Italy
Classification:
11.14 Investigational drugs; pharmacological experiments (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)
