MYOPIA AND OCULAR GROWTH--NEURAL MECHANISMS

描述（改编自申请人摘要）：拟议的研究旨在 进一步阐明神经和/或药理学机制调节 出生后眼睛生长并影响屈光不正的发展， 特别是近视（近视）。在小鸡和包括人类在内的哺乳动物中， 视觉依赖的反馈机制影响出生后的眼生长，因此， 暗示了神经机制对屈光的控制证据量充分 认为视网膜本身对眼睛的生长起着主导作用 和折射，也许有一些调制从其他组件的 神经系统 我们寻求增强对神经系统的本质和相互作用的理解， 影响出生后眼睛生长和屈光状态的机制。使用 以鸡为模型，研究将针对以下具体目标：1） 进一步明确调节眼睛生长和屈光的胆碱能机制; 2)了解光与暗对后天眼睛的影响 发展; 3）进一步阐明调节眼睛生长的视网膜机制， 强调GABA的作用; 4）建立多种 调节眼睛生长的神经受体系统;以及5）识别神经 控制眼睛形状及其组成部分的机制， 从轴向长度和折射单独。 过去在该补助金下进行的研究在这方面产生了重大影响。 领域：刺激其他研究计划;为临床开放的可能性 药物疗法，其中一种目前正在儿童中积极研究; 提示寻找临床近视潜在危险因素的新方向。 我们希望，我们的研究将继续导致更好地了解 眼生长和最终走向合理的方法，以防止屈光 孩子的错误。

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from Applicant's abstract): The proposed research seeks further clarification of neural and/or pharmacological mechanisms regulating postnatal ocular growth and influencing the development of refractive errors, particularly myopia (nearsightedness). In chick and mammals including man, vision-dependent feedback mechanisms influence postnatal ocular growth, hence implicating neural mechanisms in the control of refraction. Much evidence identifies the retina itself as exerting the dominant influence on eye growth and refraction, with perhaps some modulation from other components of the nervous system. We seek enhanced understanding of the nature and interaction of the neural mechanisms influencing postnatal eye growth and refractive status. Using the chick as a model, studies will be directed to the following specific aims: 1) define further the cholinergic mechanisms modulating eye growth and refraction; 2) understand the role of light and dark in influencing postnatal eye development; 3) further clarify retinal mechanisms modulating eye growth, emphasizing the role of GABA; 4) establish interactions of the multiple neuroreceptor systems that modulate eye growth; and 5) identify neural mechanisms controlling the shape of the eye and its components, as distinct from axial length and refraction alone. Past research conducted under this grant has impacted significantly in this field: stimulating other research programs; opening possibilities for clinical drug therapies, one of which is now under active study in children; and suggesting novel directions to seek potential risk factors for clinical myopia. We hope that our studies will continue to lead to improved understanding of ocular growth and ultimately towards rational approaches to prevent refractive errors in children.