Effect of Antiglaucoma Medicine on Intraocular Pressure in DBA/2J Mice

Background: The DBA/2J mouse strain is known to develop glaucomatous changes. Intraocular pressure (IOP) fluctuations affected by age or antiglaucoma drug administration were compared among three mouse strains, DBA/2J, C57BL/6, and BALB/c. Methods: IOP was measured using the TonoLab tonometer under systemic anesthesia. For each mouse strain, the effects of age and topical administration of antiglaucoma medications (timolol maleate, dorzolamide, brimonidine tartrate, and travoprost) were assessed, and results were compared among the three strains. Results: IOP started to rise in DBA/2J mice at 21 weeks of age. The highest values of IOP were distributed from 18 to 51 mm Hg. Eighty percent of DBA/2J mice showed maximum IOP at either 35 or 46 weeks. IOP of C57BL/6 ranged from 9 to 14 mm Hg as the mice aged. Treatment with any of the antiglaucoma medications resulted in IOP-lowering effects in all three strains. The difference in levels before and after administration ranged from 6 to 10 mm Hg on average in DBA/2J. Conclusion: DBA/2J mice are a useful animal model to study the effects of antiglaucoma therapy.