Abstract
The retinal vessel calibre responses to controlled stimulation of the autonomic nervous system were studied in 10 healthy subjects, using sustained isometric muscle contraction as stimulus. Each subject was studied twice using different mydriatic agents, (1) g.tropicamide 1% a parasympatholytic agent and (2) g. phenylephrine 10% a sympathetic agonist. In the tropicamide study, there was a mean arteriolar constriction of 8.1% (SEM 1.67, p<0.001) and venule constriction of 3.7% (SEM 0.85, p<0.001) with a mean rise in diastolic blood pressure of 27.4 mmHg (SEM 2.95, range: 13-45 mmHg). When g.phenylephrine 10% was used, there was a mean arteriolar constriction of 8.6% (SEM 1.68, p<0.001) and venule constriction of 4.8% (SEM 1.22, p<0.001) with a mean rise in diastolic blood pressure of 29.2 mmHg (SEM 2.56, range: 17-44 mmHg). There was no significant difference in retinal vessel calibre in the recovery phase compared to baseline phase (p>0.05) or between the two mydriatic agents on vessel responses (p>0.05). There was no correlation between the rise in diastolic blood pressure and the degree of retinal vessel constriction, during handgrip contraction in either study. This study has demonstrated a significant association between retinal vessel calibre and systemic autonomic nerve stimulation. The possible mechanisms for the retinal vessel constriction observed in this study are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
References
Johnson PC : Review of previous studies and current theories of autoregulation. Circ Res 1964, 15(suppl 1):2.
Robinson F, Riva CE, Grunwald JE, Petrig BL, Sinclair SH : Retinal blood flow autoregulation in response to an acute increase in blood pressure. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1986; 27:722–6.
Riva CE and Loebl M : Autoregulation of blood flow in the capillaries of the human macula. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1977; 16: 568–71.
Riva CE, Sinclair SH, Grunwald JE : Autoregulation of the retinal circulation in response to decrease of perfusion pressure. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1981; 21: 34–8.
Ernest JT : Blood flow in normal and abnormal retinal vessels. Trans Ophthalmol Soc UK 1980; 100:343–5.
Ewing DJ, Borsey DQ, Bellavere F, Clarke BF : Cardiac autonomic neuropathy in diabetes: comparison of measures of R-R interval variation. Diabetologia 1981; 21: 18–24.
Levin AB : A simple test of cardiac function based on the heart rate changes induced by the Valsalva manoeuvre. Am J Cardiol 1966: 18:90–9.
Ewing DJ, Campbell IW, Murray A, Neilson JMM, Clarke BF : Immediate heart rate response to standing: a simple test for autonomic neuropathy in diabetes. Br Med J 1978; 1:145–7.
Ewing DJ, Irving JB, Kerr F, Wildsmith JAW, Clarke BF : Cardiovascular responses to sustained handgrip in normal subjects and in patients with diabetes mellitus - a test of autonomic nerve function. Clin Sci Mol Med 1974; 46: 295–306.
Bellavere F and Ewing DJ : Autonomic control of the immediate heart rate response to lying down. Clin Sci 1982; 62: 57–64.
Coote JH, Hilton SM, Perez-Gonzalez JF : The reflex nature of the pressor response to muscular exercise. J. Physiol 1971; 215: 789–804.
Donald K, Lind AR, McNichol GW, Humphreys PW, Taylor SH, Staunton HP : Cardiovascular responses to sustained (static) contractions. Circ Res 1967; 20 (suppl 1): 15–30.
Freyschuss U : Cardiovascular adjustment to Somatomotor activation. Acta Physiol Scand 1970; Suppl. 342.
Lind AR, Taylor SH, Humphreys PW, Kennelly BM, Donald KW : The circulatory effects of sustained voluntary muscle contraction. Clin Sci 1964; 27: 229–44.
Ewing DJ, Campbell IW, Burt AA, Clarke BF : Vascular reflexes in diabetic autonomic neuropathy. Lancet 1973; 2: 1354–6.
Hill DW, Crabtree A : Vascular calibres. Trans Ophthalmol Soc UK 1984; 104: 107.
Grunwald JE, Sinclair SH, Riva CE : Autoregulation of the retinal circulation in response to decrease of intraocular pressure below normal. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1982; 23(1): 124–6.
Russell RW : Evidence for autoregulation in human retinal circulation. Lancet 1973; 2: 1048–50.
Dollery CT, Hill DW, Hodge JV : The response of normal retinal blood vessels to angiotensin and noradrenaline. J. Physiol 1963; 165: 500–6.
Rhie FH, Chriestlieb AR, Sandor T, Gleason RE, Rand LI, Shah ST, Soeldner JS : Retinal vascular reactivity to norepinephrine and angiotensin II in normals and diabetics. Diabetes 1982; 31:1056–62.
Ehinger B : Adrenergic nerves to the eye and to related structures in man and in the cynomolgus monkey (macaca Irus). Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1966; 5: 42–52.
Hogan MJ, Alverado JA, Weddell JE : Histology of the human eye. Philadelphia, W.B.,Saunders 1971.
Haggendal J., Malmfors T . Identification and cellular localization of the catecholamines in the retina and the choroid of the rabbit. Acta Physiol Scand 1965; 64: 58–66.
Bayliss WM : On the local reactions of the arterial wall to changes in internal pressure. J. Physiol 1902; 28: 220–31.
Kaskel D, Metais P, Bill A : The effects of arterial blood pressure increments on the regional blood flow in the eye and brain of cats. Bibl Anat No. 16: 36–41. (Karger, Basel 1977). 9th Europ Conf Microcirculation. Antwerp 1976.
Bill A, Linder M, Linder J : The protective role of ocular sympathetic vasomotor nerves in acute arterial hypertension. Bibl Anat No. 16: 30–35, 1977. 9th Europ Conf Microcirculation. Antwerp 1976.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Presented at the Annual Congress of the Ophthalmological Society of the United Kingdom, April 1988.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lanigan, L., Clark, C. & Hill, D. Retinal circulation responses to systemic autonomic nerve stimulation. Eye 2, 412–417 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1988.75
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1988.75
This article is cited by
-
Heart rate variability, the dynamic nature of the retinal microvasculature and cardiac stress: providing insight into the brain–retina–heart link: the SABPA study
Eye (2020)
-
Association of dietary nitrate intake with retinal microvascular structure in older adults
European Journal of Nutrition (2020)
-
Simultaneous influence of sympathetic autonomic stress on Schlemm’s canal, intraocular pressure and ocular circulation
Scientific Reports (2019)
-
Retinal Information is Independently Associated with Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Type 2 diabetes
Scientific Reports (2016)
-
Immediate response of retinal vessels to isometric muscle contraction
Eye (1998)
