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Updated: Jul 29, 2025
Inducement and Evaluation of a Murine Model of Experimental Myopia
Published on: January 22, 2019
Acupuncture modulates development of myopia by reducing NLRP3 inflammasome activation via the dopamine-D1R signaling
Chih-Sheng Chen1,2, Chi-Fong Lin3, Yung-Lan Chou4
1Department of Food Nutrition and Health Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung.
Background:
Dopamine has been suggested to be a stop signal for eye growth and affects the development of myopia. Acupuncture is known to increase dopamine secretion and is widely used to treat myopia clinically.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to determine if acupuncture inhibits myopia progression in form deprived Syrian hamsters by inducing rises in dopamine content that in turn suppress inflammasome activation.
Methods:
Acupuncture was applied at LI4 and Taiyang every other day for 21 days. The levels of molecules associated with the dopamine signaling pathway, inflammatory signaling pathway and inflammasome activation were determined. A dopamine agonist (apomorphine) was used to evaluate if activation of the dopaminergic signaling pathway suppresses myopia progression by inhibiting inflammasome activation in primary retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. A dopamine receptor 1 (D1R) inhibitor (SCH39166) was also administered to the hamsters.
Results:
Acupuncture inhibited myopia development by increasing dopamine levels and activating the D1R signaling pathway. Furthermore, we also demonstrated that nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-, leucine-rich repeat (LRR)- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLR) family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation was inhibited by activation of the D1R signaling pathway.
Conclusion:
Our findings suggest that acupuncture inhibits myopia development by suppressing inflammation, which is initiated by activation of the dopamine-D1R signaling pathway.
Insights
Acupuncture may inhibit myopia by boosting dopamine levels and activating the dopamine receptor 1 (D1R) pathway, which suppresses inflammation. This research explores acupuncture
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
- Integrative Medicine
Background:
- Dopamine acts as a stop signal for eye growth, influencing myopia development.
- Acupuncture is clinically used for myopia and is known to increase dopamine secretion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if acupuncture inhibits myopia progression in Syrian hamsters.
- To determine if acupuncture-induced dopamine rises suppress inflammasome activation.
Main Methods:
- Acupuncture applied at LI4 and Taiyang points for 21 days.
- Assessed dopamine and inflammatory pathway molecules.
- Used apomorphine (dopamine agonist) and SCH39166 (D1R inhibitor) in RPE cells and hamsters.
Main Results:
- Acupuncture inhibited myopia development by increasing dopamine and activating the D1R pathway.
- Dopamine D1R pathway activation suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
- Inflammasome activation was inhibited by D1R pathway activation.
Conclusions:
- Acupuncture inhibits myopia development by suppressing inflammation.
- This anti-inflammatory effect is mediated by the dopamine-D1R signaling pathway.
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