PRIMARY OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMAS IN THE RHESUS-MONKEY

Rhesus monkeys from the closed Cayo Santiago colony of the University of Puerto Rico demonstrate elevated (greater-than-or-equal-to 22 mm Hg ) intraocular pressure in a pattern which significantly favours certai n maternal lineage groupings. The colony had remained genetically pure since 1938. Of nine matriarchal lineages (matrilines) examined, two h ad an incidence of ocular hypertension of more than 40% and six of mor e than 10%. Information on 18 matrilines is currently located in the c olony data base which identifies each individual and its vital statist ics. In 1990, six animals were moved to the laboratory in Florida. Amo ng those from a low incidence matriline, we found abnormal optic nerve cups, pallor, reduced function of (mainly peripheral) fields, progres sion and loss of optic nerve axons in the presence of ocular hypertens ion. In another individual where the cup/disc ratio for the right eye was 0.7 and left eye 0.4 and outflow facility was normal, we excluded all other causes of optic nerve atrophy, and low tension glaucoma was diagnosed. This female was from a matriline with a low incidence of oc ular hypertension. Relatively rapid aging (3-4 years/human year) monke ys with ocular hypertension and familial clustering produce a near ide al glaucoma research model.