Increased intraocular pressure and hypothermia following injection of calcium into the rabbit third ventricle

Calcium administration into the third ventricle of rabbits resulted in a dose-dependent elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP) and reduction in deep body temperature. These responses were not inhibited by pretreatment with atropine, phentolamine, propanolol or indomethacin. Pretreatment with agents which reduce aqueous humor production, acetazolamide and non-anesthetic doses of phenobarbital, prevented the elevation of IOP but not the induced hypothermia. Imidazole, an agent which alters calcium kinetics, blocked the hypothermia response but not the IOP elevation.