AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON UVEOSCLERAL OUTFLOW WITH FITC-BSA AS A TRACER IN RABBIT EYE

It is to discuss the method for studying uveoscleral pathway and the influence of uveoscleral outflow on aqueous humor drainage. Seventeen rabbits were randomly divided into the flow group that included 5 rabbits and the morphological group that included 12. Fluoresceinisothiocyanate bovine serum albumin (FITCBSA) was perfused into anterior chambers of flow group rabbit eyes as the tracer for measuring uveoscleral outflow. This tracer was infused into anterior chambers of morphological group rabbit eyes for observing fluorescent intensity of all tissue of the uveoscleral pathway with fluorescence microscopy. Fluorescence was seen in all sites of uveoscleral pathway. The fluorescent intensity of ciliary body and suprachoroidal space was significantly stronger than that of anterior sclera (P<005). The intensity of choroid and posterior sclera was significantly weaker than that of other tissues (P<005). The average value of uveoscleral outflow was (0180031) l/min. This study demonstrates that uveoscleral pathway plays an important role in aqueous humor drainage. Anterior sclera is the main site where aqueous humor flows out. FITCBSA is an effective tracer for studying uveoscleral pathway from both morphological and functional aspects.