Further studies of the ipsilateral and contralateral responses to topical nitrogen mustard

Abstract

The short term ipsilateral and contralateral responses of the rabbit eye to topical 1% nitrogen mustard were studied by measurement of protein in the aqueous humor, anterior segment fluorescein angiography, and aqueous fluorophotometry. The ipsilateral response was characterized by intense miosis, ischemia of the iris, and leakage of fluorescein (and presumably protein) into the posterior chamber. The iris ischemia was at least partly secondary to the pronounced elevation of intraocular pressure that occurs following nitrogen mustard. A contralateral rise in protein levels in the aqueous humor was seen in five of 22 rabbits. No contralateral iris ischemia or miosis was observed. Neither the ipsilateral nor the contralateral response was inhibited by pretreatment with aspirin. Aqueous fluorophotometry was only slightly more sensitive in detecting a contralateral response than simple measurement of protein levels in the aqueous.