Characterisation of the prereceptor regulation of glucocorticoids in the anterior segment of the rabbit eye

The prereceptor regulation of glucocorticoids (GCs) by 11b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type-1 (11b-HSD1), a bidirectional isozyme that interconverts active (cortisol) and inactive (cortisone) GCs, is an established determinant of GC function in tissues such as liver, adipose and bone. Although the therapeutic use of GCs is abundant in ophthalmic practice, where GC interactions with nuclear receptors modulate gene transcription, the prereceptor regulation of endogenous cortisol is not well described in ocular tissues. Recent descriptive studies have localised 11b-HSD1 to the human corneal epithelium and non-pigmented epithelium (NPE) of the ciliary body, indicating a link to corneal epithelial physiology and aqueous humour production. In this study, we characterise the functional aspects of the autocrine regulation of GCs in the anterior segment of the rabbit eye. Using our in-house generated primary antibody to human 11b-HSD1, immunohistochemical analyses were performed on paraffin-embedded sections of whole New Zealand white albino rabbits, (NZWAR) eyes. As in human studies, 11b-HSD1 was localised to the corneal epithelium and the NPE. No staining was seen in the albino ‘pigmented’ ciliary epithelium. Specific enzyme assays for oxo-reductase (cortisone/cortisol) and dehydrogenase (cortisol/cortisone)