Pannexin 1a regulates visual system development and ocular integrity in zebrafish
Abstract
larvae, with response rates declining from 91.7% to 50% at 20% contrast and from 100% to 41.7% at 100% contrast, along with prolonged saccade intervals (2-fold at 20% and 4-fold at 100% contrast). High-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) in adults showed increased normalized axial length (7-8% across ages) and reduced lens-to-axial length ratios (0.58 vs. 0.63 at 8 months). Histology revealed age-dependent lens epithelial disruption and increased light scatter. Retinal analyses demonstrated thinning of the whole retina (10%) and ganglion cell layer (33%), with occasional vascular tortuosity. Together, these findings identify Panx1a as a key regulator of ocular integrity and refractive development in zebrafish.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Ocular Disorders and Treatments
Retinal Development and Disorders
Connexins and lens biology
Publication details
- Journal / source
- iScience
- Volume
- 29
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 114925–114925
- Publication date
- 6 February 2026
- Language
- EN