Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonists inhibit chick scleral chondrocytes.

In chick scleral chondrocytes, synthesis of DNA and glycosaminoglycans was inhibited by mAChR antagonists. This inhibition was probably mediated by the M1 subtype mAChR. Therefore in vivo the sclera may be a site of action for the mAChR antagonists previously used to influence myopia. Although at high concentrations mAChR antagonists tested seemed to be toxic to chondrocytes, at lower doses inhibition occurred without toxic effects.