Chief Supervisor

Prof. PAN Feng

Project Title

Synopsis

Myopia is the most prevalent refractive error globally, characterized by blurred distance vision and associated with significant public health implications. Gap junctions play a vital role in various retinal functions related to myopia, including light adaptation, control of contrast sensitivity, and neural transmission within the mammalian rod pathway. Connexin36 (Cx36), a key component of gap junctions, is crucial for retinal signaling and has been implicated in mechanisms that may influence both the risk and progression of myopia. Despite its importance, the lack of studies utilizing Cx36 conditional knockout models has limited our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the secondary rod pathway in myopia development. This study aims to investigate how phosphorylation of Cx36 regulates communication between rods and cones in the retina during lens-induced myopia, with a particular focus on the secondary rod pathway. Ultimately, the results of this study are anticipated to significantly contribute to our understanding of the complex mechanisms underlying myopia development, thereby opening up possibilities for potential interventions.