Platelet-activating factor and laser trauma of the iris.

Local application of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on the rabbit eye caused a dose-dependent significant increase in intraocular pressure (IOP). After laser irradiation of the iris the IOP showed a hypertensive phase of about 3 hr. Prophylactic treatment with the PAF antagonist BN 52021 but not with indomethacin abolished the hypertensive phase. Elevated levels of protein (10.6 +/- 0.9 g/l) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2, 1.7 +/- 0.2 ng/ml) were measured in the aqueous humor 2 hr after laser irradiation of the iris. Prophylactic treatment with BN 52021 showed lower levels of protein (6.1 +/- 0.7) and PGE2 (1.1 +/- 0.02); with indomethacin pretreatment the level of protein was 3.4 +/- 0.7 g/l and of PGE2 0.10 +/- 0.02 ng/ml. A role of PAF as a mediator in ocular inflammatory response is suggested.