MYOPIA AND OCULAR GROWTH--NEURAL MECHANISMS

描述(改编自申请者的摘要)：建议的研究寻求 进一步阐明神经和/或药物调节机制 出生后眼睛的生长和影响屈光不正的发展， 尤其是近视(近视)。在雏鸟和包括人类在内的哺乳动物中， 视觉依赖的反馈机制会影响出生后的眼睛生长，因此 牵涉到控制屈光的神经机制。很多证据 确认视网膜本身对眼睛生长起主导作用 和折射，可能有来自其他组件的一些调制 神经系统。 我们寻求对神经本质和相互作用的更深入的理解 影响出生后眼睛生长和屈光状态的机制。使用 雏鸡作为模型，研究将针对以下具体目标：1) 进一步确定调节眼睛生长和屈光的胆碱能机制； 2)了解光和暗在影响出生后眼睛中的作用 3)进一步阐明视网膜调节眼睛生长的机制， 强调GABA的作用；4)建立多重的互动 调节眼睛生长的神经感受器系统；以及5)识别神经 控制眼睛及其组成部分的形状的机制， 仅从轴向长度和屈光度来看。 过去在这笔赠款下进行的研究在这方面产生了重大影响 领域：刺激其他研究项目；为临床打开可能性 药物疗法，其中一种目前正在儿童中积极研究； 为寻找临床近视的潜在危险因素提供了新的方向。 我们希望我们的研究将继续促进对 眼球发育和最终走向防止屈光不正的合理方法 孩子们的错误。

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.