Drugs affecting the cholinergic system in the intact mammalian eye. I. Evaluation of the miotic activity of acetylcholine like drugs in the mouse eye

The effects of concentration and pH on the miotic activity of 5 acetylcholine like drugs were studied in the intact mouse eye. The data suggests that it is mainly the nonionized form of the drug which contributes to its miotic activity. Acetylcholine like drugs, degradable by cholinesterases, exert their miotic activity at higher concentrations than do those which are resistant to enzymatic hydrolysis. More active acetylcholine like drugs appear to be less sensitive to concentration changes.