Comparative Study of the Effect of Aqueous Mushroom Extract (Pleurotus tuberregium) and Pilocarpine on the Schlemm’s Canal in Rabbit: A Mophological Study of the Outflow Facility

Abstract

Pleurotus tuberregium is a mushroom species that has been shown to reduce intraocular pressure. This study is aimed at finding out the cellular morphological changes that occur in the Schlemm's Canal as it relates to outflow facility due to the administration of Pleurotus tuberregium as well as comparing the changes that occur due to Pilocarpine. This study was carried out using 12 New Zealand rabbits which was divided into three groups with four rabbits in each group. Group 1 was administered with the pilocarpine, group 2 was administered with aqueous mushroom extract, (Pleurotus tuberregium) and group 3 served as the Control group. Afterwards the animals in each group were sacrificed and their eyes enucleated. The enucleated eyes then went through histopathological investigations with sectioning and preparation of slides. Analyses and capturing of the slides was then done using the light microscope and capturing camera. Sectioning and viewing of the scleral venous sinus or schlemm’s canal under a high magnification of x40 and x100 respectively with a light microscope revealed that treatment with pilocarpine and aqueous mushroom extract resulted in the formation of an increased number of vascular channels and also increased tortuous and convoluted nature of these channels, with a slightly greater effect in aqueous mushroom treated cells.
Conclusion: mushromm extract causes increased tortuous and convoluted nature of vascular channels. This tortuosity leads to an increase in the sinus spaces or vacoules which then leads to an increase in the outflow facility and a resultant decrease in the intraocular pressure.
Keywords: Pleurotus tuberregium, Schlemm's canal, Pilocarpine