To investigate the influence of RXRα on refractive development and ocular growth, we used peribulbar injections of selective RXRα agonist and antagonist in normal and form-deprived myopic (FDM) guinea pigs.

In this experimental study, 245 3-week-old guinea pigs weighing approximately 100 g were randomly assigned to normal and FD groups. Each group included these subgroups: untreated group, vehicle group and drug-treated group. The vehicle group and drug-treated group received peribulbar injections of DMSO, RXRα agonist Fluorobexarotene and RXRα antagonist HX531 every day for 4 weeks. Refraction and ocular biometric parameters were measured in both eyes of the individual animals before treatment and 2 and 4 weeks after treatment. RXRα expression was detected by immunofluorescence (IF) after all measurements were taken. The results were analyzed with a paired-sample t test and one-way analysis of variance.

RXRα expression increased after peribulbar injections of RXRα agonist Fluorobexarotene. In addition, the expression of RXRα decreased after RXRα antagonist HX531 treatment. Peribulbar injection of either RXRα agonist Fluorobexarotene or RXRα antagonist HX531 did not result in statistically significant differences in refraction, vitreous chamber or axial length in the normal vision and FDM guinea pigs.

Peribulbar injection of RXRα agonist Fluorobexarotene and RXRα antagonist HX531 had no significant effect in refractive development and ocular growth in normal and FDM guinea pigs, suggesting that RXRα alone has no direct effect in the regulation of normal refractive development and form deprivation myopia in guinea pigs.

Myopia; Form deprivation; Guinea pig; RXRα