Preshanta Naicker1,2, Shailendra Anoopkumar-Dukie1,2, Gary D Grant1,2, Justin J Kavanagh3,4. 1. Menzies Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia. 2. School of Pharmacy, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia. 3. Menzies Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia. j.kavanagh@griffith.edu.au. 4. Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia. j.kavanagh@griffith.edu.au.
Abstract
RATIONALE: Acetylcholine is an important neuromodulator in the central nervous system, where it plays a significant role in central functions such as the regulation of movement. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the pharmacological effects of over-the-counter anticholinergic medications on saccadic and smooth pursuit eye movements, in order to establish the significance of central cholinergic pathways in the control of these centrally regulated oculomotor processes. METHODS: Sixteen subjects (mean age 23 ± 3 years, 9 females) performed pro-saccadic, anti-saccadic and smooth pursuit eye movement tests, while an eye tracker collected eye movement data. Oculomotor assessments were performed pre-ingestion, 0.5 and 2 h post-ingestion of drugs with varying degrees of central anticholinergic properties. The drugs tested were promethazine, hyoscine hydrobromide, hyoscine butylbromide and placebo. RESULTS: The drug intervention with stronger central anticholinergic properties, promethazine, decreased amplitude and increased velocity in the pro-saccadic task and increased duration in the anti-saccadic task. Promethazine, once again, was the only drug to decrease eye velocity in the smooth pursuit test. CONCLUSION: The prominent effects of the stronger central anticholinergic promethazine, on saccadic and smooth pursuit eye movements, potentially conveys the significance of central cholinergic pathways in the control of these centrally regulated oculomotor processes.
RATIONALE: Acetylcholine is an important neuromodulator in the central nervous system, where it plays a significant role in central functions such as the regulation of movement. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the pharmacological effects of over-the-counter anticholinergic medications on saccadic and smooth pursuit eye movements, in order to establish the significance of central cholinergic pathways in the control of these centrally regulated oculomotor processes. METHODS: Sixteen subjects (mean age 23 ± 3 years, 9 females) performed pro-saccadic, anti-saccadic and smooth pursuit eye movement tests, while an eye tracker collected eye movement data. Oculomotor assessments were performed pre-ingestion, 0.5 and 2 h post-ingestion of drugs with varying degrees of central anticholinergic properties. The drugs tested were promethazine, hyoscine hydrobromide, hyoscine butylbromide and placebo. RESULTS: The drug intervention with stronger central anticholinergic properties, promethazine, decreased amplitude and increased velocity in the pro-saccadic task and increased duration in the anti-saccadic task. Promethazine, once again, was the only drug to decrease eye velocity in the smooth pursuit test. CONCLUSION: The prominent effects of the stronger central anticholinergic promethazine, on saccadic and smooth pursuit eye movements, potentially conveys the significance of central cholinergic pathways in the control of these centrally regulated oculomotor processes.
Authors: S B Hutton; T J Crawford; H Gibbins; I Cuthbert; T R Barnes; C Kennard; E M Joyce Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2001-09 Impact factor: 4.530
Authors: S B Hutton; T J Crawford; B K Puri; L J Duncan; M Chapman; C Kennard; T R Barnes; E M Joyce Journal: Psychol Med Date: 1998-05 Impact factor: 7.723