Abstract
Publisher Summary This chapter presents evidence for the contractile properties of the trabecular meshwork (TM) and their effects on aqueous humor reabsorption. In a study discussed in the chapter, membrane voltage measurements and patch-clamp techniques were applied to cultured bovine and human TM and ciliary muscle (CM) cells. Measurements of isometric tension were performed on isolated TM and CM strips. Anterior segments of bovine eyes with well-preserved TM were perfused to measure the outflow rate. Cultured bovine and human TM cells showed voltage spikes typical of smooth muscle cells that were inhibited by nifedipine but insensitive to tetrodotoxin. The excitability of TM cells indicates that they function as contractile smooth muscle cells. There is no principal difference between human and bovine TM cells in terms of K + and Ca 2+ channels, functional receptors for endothelin, and the effects of cholinergic and adrenergic agonists. The concept of functional antagonism between TM and CM should be considered in the interpretation of the mechanism of action of currently used antiglaucoma drugs and for the search for effective new drugs.
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