The action of drugs on the formation of transient lens opacities

A new method for studying the action of drugs on the rate of formation and flow of aqueous humour is described which makes use of the reversible lenticular opacity that can be seen in mice after the administration of certain morphine-like analgesic drugs. Control curves showing the amount of opacity at given times were constructed after the injection of methadone and pethidine. The action of a drug on the dynamics of aqueous humour is suggested by a change in the shape of these curves. Using this method it was found that atropine and histamine accelerated the development of the opacity and increased its amount. With acetazolamide and dibenamine the onset of the effect was slowed, but the duration of maximal opacity was prolonged.