Experimental Modulation of the Uveal Vasculature

Abstract

For the past 10 years, our group has been interested in examining the anatomy of the uveal vasculature, especially of the anterior uvea, and in measuring the regulatory response of ocular vessels to physiologic and pharmacologic stimuli. For these studies, we have used a methacrylate intraluminal casting model using a modification of Batson’s compound #17 injected into major arterial vessels, the aorta or carotid arteries of experimental animals (Morrison et al. 1987; Fahrenbach et al. 1988 a). Rigid methacrylate castings of the entire ocular microvasculature can be dissected and examined with a scanning electron microscope. We have examined the ciliary microvasculature of ten different mammalian species (Morrison et al. 1987 a, 1987 b; Morrison and Van Buskirk 1983).

Supported in part by NIH Grants EY05231, and RR00163.