Investigative ophthalmology & visual scienceNov 28, 2018

How Stress Hormones Affect Daily Eye Pressure Changes in Mice

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Updated Apr 1, 2026

Abstract

Adrenalectomy abolished circadian IOP rhythmicity in mice.

Glucocorticoid receptor mRNA expression in iris-ciliary body complexes remains stable throughout the day.
Core clock gene mRNA shows a robust circadian rhythmicity in the iris-ciliary body.
Dexamethasone can induce phase delays when given between circadian time 8 (CT8) to CT12 and phase advances from CT16 to CT20.
Intact adrenal function is necessary for the normal circadian rhythms of intraocular pressure (IOP).
These findings suggest that may play a role in aligning IOP rhythms with the master circadian clock.

Simplified

PURPOSE: Intraocular pressure (IOP) fluctuates with a robust , which is synchronized to organismal rhythmicity through the master circadian clock located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei. The mechanisms maintaining circadian synchrony between the suprachiasmatic nuclei and IOP rhythms are presently unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the necessity and sufficiency of adrenal and glucocorticoid function for the entrainment of iris-ciliary body (iris-CB) and IOP circadian rhythms in mice.

METHODS: Iris-CB complexes were dissected from C57Bl/6J mice that were kept in 12-hour light/dark cycles at 3-hour intervals, and their core clock gene (Per1, Per2, and Bmal1) and glucocorticoid receptor mRNA expression were quantified. Iris-CB complexes from period2::luciferase mice were dissected and cultured to measure in vitro rhythmicity. To determine the phase-shifting effect of on the iris-CB, dexamethasone or vehicle was added to the cultured tissues at defined circadian phases. The diurnal IOP rhythms of adrenalectomized or sham-operated mice under the 12-hour light/dark cycles were also measured.

RESULTS: In iris-CB complexes, glucocorticoid receptor mRNA expression remained stable throughout the day, whereas the mRNA of core clock genes showed a robust circadian rhythmicity. Dexamethasone significantly induced phase-delays when administered between circadian time 8 (CT8) to CT12 and phase-advance when given between CT16 to CT20. Adrenalectomy abolished circadian IOP rhythmicity, particularly diminishing nocturnal IOP elevation compared with sham-operated mice.

CONCLUSIONS: Glucocorticoids are sufficient for phase shifting the circadian clock in iris-CB. Intact adrenal function is required for manifest circadian rhythms of IOP in mice. Taken together, these data are consistent with the hypothesis that glucocorticoids mediate circadian entrainment of IOP to the master circadian oscillator.

Key numbers

5.9 ± 2.9 hours

Phase Advance

Observed phase advance when DEX was given between circadian time 16 to 20.

−3.5 ± 2.9 hours

Phase Delay

Observed phase delay when DEX was given between circadian time 8 to 12.

p < 0.001

IOP Fluctuation Significance

Statistical significance of IOP fluctuation analysis between ADX and sham-operated groups.

Full Text

We can’t show the full text here under this license.

View Full Text ↗

How Stress Hormones Affect Daily Eye Pressure Changes in Mice

Abstract

Key numbers

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief

Abstract

Key numbers

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief