Alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists inhibit form-deprivation myopia in the chick

• Published in: Clinical and experimental optometry Vol. 102; no. 4; pp. 418 - 425
• Main Authors: Carr, Brittany J, Nguyen, Cynthia T, Stell, William K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne Taylor & Francis 01.07.2019; Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Acetylcholine receptors (muscarinic); Adrenergic receptors; adrenoceptor; agonism; Agonists; Atropine; brimonidine; Clonidine; Elongation; Eye; Hypotheses; Invited Research; Juveniles; Myopia; Yohimbine
• ISSN: 0816-4622; 1444-0938
• DOI: 10.1111/cxo.12871

The putative myopia-controlling receptor is thought to be muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype M 4 , because mamba toxin-3 can inhibit form-deprivation myopia in chicks at a far lower concentration than atropine. However, mamba toxin-3 is equally potent at the human α 1A -, α 1D -, and α 2A -adrenoceptors. To test the hypothesis that α-adrenoceptors might be involved in regulation of eye growth, the treatment effects of α 2 -adrenoceptor agonists brimonidine, clonidine, and guanfacine, and antagonist yohimbine, on form-deprivation myopia in the chick were measured. Right eyes of White Leghorn chicks were goggled with diffusers to induce form-deprivation myopia; left eyes were left open as controls. Goggled eyes were injected intravitreally with 20 μL of vehicle, or 2, 20, or 200-nmol of brimonidine, clonidine, guanfacine, or yohimbine, 24, 72, and 120-hours after goggle application. Alternatively, myopia was inhibited physiologically by goggle removal for two-hours, and the α 2 -adrenoceptor antagonist, yohimbine, was injected to test whether it could block this type of myopia inhibition. One day after the last injection, refractive error and axial length were measured. Brimonidine (20 and 200-nmol) and clonidine (200-nmol) effectively inhibited experimentally induced increases in negative refractive error and axial elongation. All doses of guanfacine significantly inhibited induced negative refractive error, but only 20 and 200-nmol significantly inhibited axial elongation. Yohimbine had no effect on form-deprivation myopia, but 200-nmol reduced the myopia-inhibiting effect of goggle removal. High concentrations of α 2 -adrenoceptor agonists, similar to those required by atropine, inhibited chick form-deprivation myopia; antagonism by yohimbine had no effect. High-concentration yohimbine partially interfered with emmetropisation in form-deprived chicks experiencing normal vision for two-hours per day. These data support the hypothesis that treatment with high concentrations of adrenergic drugs can affect experimentally induced myopia and normal visual processes.