Objective: To measure the number of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) in the trabecular meshwork and peripheral blood lymphocytes of rabbits, and to explore their relationship with steroid-induced glaucoma.
Methods: Steroid-induced glaucoma model was induced by subconjunctival injection of 0.5 mg dexamethasone in the right eyes every two days for a month. Before the injection, GR concentration was measured in peripheral blood lymphocytes and trabecular meshwork of rabbits using the radio-ligand binding assay. GR concentration was measured again 30 days after the injection. The data was analyzed with SPSS software.
Results: The GR concentration in the peripheral blood lymphocytes and the trabecular meshwork of rabbits was (3642 +/- 947) site/cell and (2437.85 +/- 733.93) dmp/mg, respectively. The expression level in lymphocytes was significantly correlated with that in the trabecular (r = 0.862, P < 0.01). After treated with dexamethasone, the intraocular pressure of rabbits increased significantly, and the GR concentration in peripheral blood lymphocytes decreased significantly. Elevating level of IOP correlated positively with the primary and decreasing level of GR (r = 0.78, 0.79, P < 0.01).
Conclusions: GR concentration in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of rabbits can reflect directly the GR number in the trabecular meshwork. There may be a close relationship between the GR number in peripheral blood lymphocytes and steroid-induced glaucoma.