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GABAB Receptor Activation Affects Eye Growth in Chickens with Visually Induced Refractive Errors
Hong Liu1,2, Frank Schaeffel1,3, Zhikuan Yang2,4,5
1Section of Neurobiology of the Eye, Ophthalmic Research Institute, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
Biomolecules
|March 29, 2023
Summary
The study found that baclofen, a GABAB receptor agonist, reduced myopia development in chicks. However, it inhibited hyperopia and choroidal thickening, suggesting GABAB receptors influence refractive error development.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Refractive errors like myopia and hyperopia are significant global health concerns.
- Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, including the retina.
- GABAB receptors are implicated in various physiological processes, but their role in refractive error development requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of GABAB receptors in the development of deprivation myopia (DM), lens-induced myopia (LIM), and lens-induced hyperopia (LIH) in a chick model.
- To assess the effects of baclofen, a GABAB receptor agonist, on refractive error, axial length, and choroidal thickness.
Main Methods:
- Chicks were intravitreally injected with baclofen or saline.
- Choroidal thickness (ChT) was measured using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT).
- Chicks were treated with diffusers or lenses, with concurrent baclofen or saline administration, followed by measurements of refractive error, axial length, and dopamine metabolites via HPLC.
Main Results:
- Baclofen injection transiently decreased choroidal thickness.
- Baclofen significantly reduced myopic shifts and eye growth in DM and LIM models.
- Baclofen inhibited hyperopic shifts and choroidal thickening in LIH models and decreased vitreal DOPAC levels.
Conclusions:
- GABAB receptor signaling plays a crucial role in modulating refractive error development.
- Interference with GABAergic signaling affects spatial retinal processing, influencing outcomes in myopia and hyperopia models.
- Targeting GABAB receptors may offer potential therapeutic strategies for refractive error management.
